Is there a state opposed to a VUCA condition that most people and organizations strive for? The preferred status quo?
We believe the answer is yes. Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity are for all intents and purposes an undesirable set of conditions that are to be avoided, countered, mitigated – unless the intent is to establish VUCA conditions leading to change. But, for the very few who are adept at understanding VUCA conditions, great benefits can be garnered.
Of course, not all four components have to be present, any one or a combination present an undesirable state. The presence of all four represent the maximum synergistic threat to the status quo, or the maximum leverage to establish conditions for change.
On one hand, as can be understood, whether or not any or all of the four conditions are undesirable depends on the perspective – a deliberate corporate takeover or regime change might be launched by deliberately fostering one or all four VUCA components – with the beneficiaries being the instigators.
On the other hand, absent malevolent actors, the natural competitive nature of life – both personal and business, contends with struggle for improved knowledge and skills, high performing employees, development and protection of unique products and services, personal and workplace safety, health, customers, markets, adverse regulations, tax policies, higher technology, security and natural resources.
One might view these as potential risks, in particular from the Uncertainty VUCA component, and add others as well such as data and information risk, decision process risk, competitive risk, and reputational risk.
As to the opposite of VUCA? Stability is preferrable to volatility, certainty to uncertainty, simplicity to complexity, and clarity to ambiguity – one might turn this into an acronym – SC2 – although it lacks VUCA’s pronounceability.
It is through the dynamic tension between VUCA and SC2 that careers are built or destroyed, fortunes are won or lost, companies succeed or fail, and nations’ governance systems provide liberty and freedom or plunge into tyranny.
Is a VUCA situation the result of natural conditions without facilitating actors or something else? Ask but one equation – Qui bono? You might just be dealing with Vucanites – but what side are they on?
Tony J., Vucanites Institute Founder, 8/29/2022