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Management for Professionals More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/10101 Sharda S. Nandram • Puneet K. Bindlish Editors Managing VUCA Through Integrative Self-Management How to Cope with Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity in Organizational Behavior Editors Sharda S. Nandram Puneet K. Bindlish Praan Group Praan Group Halfweg, The Netherlands Halfweg, The Netherlands Nyenrode Business Universiteit Breukelen The Netherlands Faculty of Management Studies—WISDOM Banasthali Vidyapith Jaipur, Rajasthan, India ISSN 2192-8096 ISSN 2192-810X (electronic) Management for Professionals ISBN 978-3-319-52230-2 ISBN 978-3-319-52231-9 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-52231-9 Library of Congress Control Number: 2017939702 # Springer International Publishing AG 2017 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland To those who try to be the transformation they want to see...See the Self, by the Self, in the Self (Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 6, verse 20) Foreword Life Is a Journey Surviving in a hostile world seems to have become the Zeitgeist. A world full of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, so much so that academicians have coined this apprehension now as the “VUCA world”. The editors have brought together in this book a wide variety of approaches and considerations from scientists from Europe, Asia, Oceania, Australia and Africa. The overview is compelling; several of the contributions are heartfelt. But then the question is, has it ever been different? Does our present time and age stand out? Is this not inherent in the structure of life itself? Browsing through historic literature, this seems to be the case. Some religions in ascertaining this quality conclude that “life is a struggle” and all we can do is sit out this lifetime and hope for a better situation in the hereafter. Other philosophies and religions point at the relativity of this point of view—life is a struggle only at the surface level of life. The inherent structure of a VUCA outside life is the invitation or challenge to turn inward. This is what many authors indicate: there are levels of life and living, and the journey of life is to find the inner core, which is the opposite of the VUCA world. The world is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, as long as that is all there is: as a ship on a wild sea without an anchor. But if one would be able to get “grounded” and connected to the inner Self, the experience of this same VUCA world may look quite different. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and VUCA as well. And the eye of the beholder is determined by his or her consciousness. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi says “Knowledge is structured in consciousness, and knowledge is different in different states of consciousness.” VUCA perception of the world may be the most underdeveloped state of consciousness, waking or dreaming—aching for growth and development. In development to higher states of consciousness, from transcendental through unity consciousness, VUCA is not the threat, it is a reminder and creates the necessity for development. As such it is explained in one of the oldest and most well-known scriptures, the Bhagavad Gita. The Bhagavad Gita sings the song of life; it presents Arjuna with vii viii Foreword the most impossible choice at the battlefield of life: do not do anything and spare your relatives and friends—keep peace in a VUCA environment, or battle for righteousness and sever family ties. This was an impossible choice within the VUCA state of consciousness. In Maharishi’s commentary, it is explained that this is indeed the quintessence of life; no VUCA situation can be solved on its own level. It needs to be transcended to a higher or best the highest level: “Nistray gunyo bhav Arjuna!” is Krishna’s most essential guidance. Maharishi explains that this indeed is the most profound lesson of the Bhagavad Gita:—be without three gunas, step out of the relative aspect of life and go towards Transcendental Consciousness. Do not try to solve the problem, any problem, on its own level. Do not perceive the world within its own context only. Step out, transcend towards the higher Self, then Nature will take over and guide you and the world to higher levels of achievement and fulfilment. Managing VUCA through Integrative Self-Management is full with these kinds of creative insights, integrative self-management and expansion of consciousness, which makes that the current situation is evaluated from a broader perspective and eventually big problems become small problems. Volatility, uncertainty, complex- ity and ambiguity are not perceived anymore as unwelcome threats, but have become the ripples in warm bath, nurturing life and stimulating progress. “Yogastah kuru karmani”—established in Being, perform action—is Krishna’s final advice to Arjuna. This is ideal living in a VUCA world. Congratulations to Sharda and Puneet to bring all these diversities of views and thoughtful approaches together in one work. Transcendental Meditation Paul Gelderloos Lelystad, The Netherlands Words of Praise Whole World Is a Family The editors have played a pivotal role by being Nimitt (enablers) and performing their Swadharma (self-duty) towards the society and in particular academics through this book. Their work will initiate an important discourse on Swavalamban (self-reliance) and Swaraaj (self-freedom) in academics and society. The important feature of the book and the editors is that they try to practice what they write, thereby leading by example. They talk about Bharatiya concept of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakkam (world is a family) and put it into action in the book itself. It is wonderful to see the diversity among the authors and topics that this book covers. The way all these beads are put beautifully into a string makes this book a unique contribution. This kind of leadership is required in organizations as well as all other walks of life. The people of the world, especially of Bharat (India) and The Netherlands, are fortunate to have academicians and researchers, who are contributing to the well- being of the world in these times of high volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA). May Bhagwan Shri Krishna (God) bless the authors to become instruments in this pursuit of establishing Dharma (righteousness) on this planet. This book is strongly recommended to people interested in performing their Swadharma through the field of management, governance, businesses, entre- preneurship and academics. Faculty of Management Studies WISDOM, Harsh Purohit Banasthali Vidyapith, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India ix Preface With divine grace, all of us get to visit many places across the world, meet variety of people and experience diverse cultures, sometimes through their worldviews. This presents each one of us an opportunity to appreciate and empathize with some of the issues that are being faced at various levels—individual, family, societal, national and global. These problems had been trying to seek the mindshare of the general public in the last many years by various scientists. They have been ringing the alarm bells for a few decades now, but they were dismissed due to people’s propensity towards listening to only convenient truths and a resistance towards change, especially the change which is very fundamental in nature. The change which may force them to change their lifestyle, how they organize their work and contribute to business models. People tried to protect their way of life and wanted everyone to conform to their views and just ignore the facts and fast approaching catastrophic events. In general, this can be attributed to our lack of physical and mental flexibility and agility too. It’s just now people have started realizing that these threats to our planet are indeed real. These problems cannot be solved by any particular or specific group. These problems are not political, which few world leaders can sit across a table and find a solution. But a solution has to be found holistically and to be worked upon by everyone irrespective of their origin or affiliation. To conceptualize the context better, academicians have suggested VUCA as a framework, which stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. This is a good beginning, as consensus on understanding of issues is being built among researchers. Ancient system of Ayurveda views any disease as a tree and stresses on the fact that if you want to cure an ailment, you first have to understand the root cause and find a medicine for the root to cure the disease.

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