Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity And Ambiguity Research Articles

Role of E-Commerce in Productivity

Productivity and production go hand in hand in the sustainability and management of any business enterprise. Due to the ever changing situations in this age of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), productivity plays a crucial role in the success of a business, whether it is a service or a manufacturing or even an ancillary unit. Technological advancements have thrown both challenges and opportunities to enhance productivity. Ecommerce is one such significant contributing factor to productivity. This paper throws light upon the role of e-commerce in productivity, and enumerates the issues and challenges associated with the effective and efficient use of e-commerce for productivity.

How does digital transformation affect organisational sustainable performance: the mediating roles of supply chain agility and integration

ABSTRACT This study investigates the effect of digital transformation on sustainable performance in the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) era. Survey data from China is used to test the mediating role of supply chain agility and integration as well as the moderating effect of perceived business force. The findings reveal that supply chain agility mediates the effects of digital transformation on economic and social performance, particularly under high level of perceived business force. However, no significant effect on environmental performance is observed. Additionally, supply chain integration acts as a mediator for the effects of digital transformation on economic, social and environmental performance, furthermore, the moderated mediation effects of perceived business force are supported. This study elusidates how digitalisation influences organisational sustainable performance through supply chain capabilities and highlights the crucial role of digital supply chain in the VUCA era. It provides theoretical and practical implications for achieving sustainable development.

A meta-analysis of the effects of lifelong vocational education in South Korea

PurposeThis study aims to conduct a quantitative meta-analysis of previous research on lifelong vocational education to generate generalized conclusions about its effects, set directions for future lifelong vocational education and identify implementation measures.Design/methodology/approachTo conduct a meta-analysis on research results that have a heterogeneous distribution, it is important to specify the analysis category for examining the effects of research variables.FindingsFirst, lifelong vocational education has an effect on dependent variables. And action appears to have the highest effect size on dependent variables. Next, when calculating the size of variables that had an effect on lifelong vocational education by educational type, the effect size of informal education was found to be larger than that of formal education. Finally, regarding the effect on the participants, office workers were influenced most, followed by university students, North Korean defectors, job seekers and foreigners.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough this study attempted to conduct an in-depth analysis of subcomponents, it was not possible to analyze variables at a more detailed level. Therefore, future studies should aim to conduct a more comprehensive analysis of different variables based on a wider composition. Because lifelong vocational education is relevant to people’s daily lives, it should be investigated in the context of their personal characteristics and social backgrounds.Practical implicationsThis research was designed to uncover general effects of lifelong vocational education and discover relevant variables affecting lifelong vocational education in South Korea. A meta-analysis of 15 studies with 67 subgroups examining lifelong vocational education was conducted.Social implicationsIn the current era of VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity), lifelong vocational education needs to be organized systematically, unlike in the past. With the rapid advancements in technology influenced by artificial intelligence and the fourth industrial revolution, there is a surge in social demands for continued reeducation and redevelopment of employees to prepare for talent development paradigm innovation, increasing unemployment among unskilled workers and competence enhancement needs among job seekers and employed individuals.Originality/valueThis study aims to conduct a quantitative meta-analysis of previous research on lifelong vocational education to draw generalized conclusions on its effectiveness and discuss its implications for implementation measures. Specifically, this study will analyze the general effect size; differences in the effect size among different dependent variable groups; and the effect size based on lifelong vocational education participants.

Managerial approaches, frameworks, and practices for business model application in public services management in the VUCA environment

Abstract Significant gaps in public services management were highlighted when service-dominant logic emerged in services science, resulting in fundamental changes in attitudes. The business model application in public services was initiated by offering public service logic. However, this concept requires justification of its interfaces with management approaches, frameworks, and practices. The VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) environment has changed the existing managerial approach in organisational performance and services management. This paper aims to highlight the key aspects and justify the application of services management approaches, frameworks, and practices (Agile practices, customer experience management frameworks, and the design thinking approach) that coincide with the business model approach in public services management (public service logic) in a VUCA environment. In this paper, the Cochrane Guide to Literature Reviews was loosely followed. The focus was on academic publications and such expert sources as webinars for practitioners. Only publications and expert sources in English were included. The Scopus search engine was used for academic sources. Publications covering at least two of the following domains were included: Customer experience, business model, Agile practices, design thinking approach, public services, and VUCA. The expert sources were selected using purposive sampling when communities of practice were identified by authors with expert knowledge, and the main communication channels within each community of practice were sampled. The analysis showed that public services are defined as public goods that the State’s government commits to deliver in line with public values by applying a customer-centric approach. Integrating the design thinking approach and Agile practices help create customer-centric solutions for the customer experience management framework as design thinking helps understand what to do, while Scrum (one of Agile practices) gives the autonomy in deciding how to do it. Each analysed managerial method contributes uniquely to improving public services management in a VUCA environment.

Empirical Analysis of the Impact of Intellectual Capital on Energy Sector Companies

This study examines the phenomenon of intellectual capital in the energy sector and its impact on company value. In the context of the disruptive and VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) era, where technological changes and business uncertainties are on the rise, the management of intellectual capital becomes crucial. The aim of this research is to test the influence of intellectual capital on company value in the energy sector. The study employs a quantitative approach, utilizing secondary data from the annual reports of energy sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during the period 2016-2021. The analytical tools used include descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing. The research findings reveal that the disclosure of intellectual capital in the energy sector is considered good, with an average of 13.872%. Statistical analysis indicates a significant influence between intellectual capital and company value, with Tobin’s Q as the company value indicator. This study contributes to understanding the concept of intellectual capital in the context of the energy sector, demonstrating that a larger company value corresponds to higher disclosure of intellectual capital. This conclusion is relevant for managers, investors, and business practitioners dealing with the complexities of the market. The research also establishes a foundation for developing adaptive and responsive strategies to rapid changes in the business environment within the energy sector.

Why the Basic Axioms of Risk Assessment Can Be Problematic to Identify Risk? – The Development of the VUCA Meter

The VUCA world is the epitome of the challenges linked with some of the undercurrents currently shaping businesses in the projectified society. The terms Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity (VUCA) are used as descriptive for the continuous flux project managers and project planners are forced to keep at bay. In this article, the authors present an idea to connect the VUCA concept as a risk identification platform to access, identify and isolate low-probability but high-impact events often called black swans or fat tail events. It is argued that the assumptions of conventional risk assessment in the domain of project management can lead to skewed general outcomes due to limitations of the intellect to assess probability. The outline of the VUCA meter is drafted and argued that the meter can augment the conventional risk assessment approach.

Essential Hard skill For Student in VUCA Era: Literature Study

The purpose of this article is to provide a literature study of essential hard skill for students in Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity (VUCA) era. The authors aim to base their new conceptualization on extensive evidence from literature review, and synthesis of the review of literature. An extensive literature review of essential hard skill for student in VUCA era is first carried out. Based on the review and synthesis of literature, an essential hard skill for student in VUCA era with three domain areas is conceptualized. The higher education curricula can now apply more specifically, any of the three dimensions areas of essential hard skill for student in VUCA era and understand the conditions under which a particular dimensions area is important for students to understand the changes caused by the VUCA and adjust the hard skills possessed by these changes.

The Quality of Education from Islamic Perspective Analysis of The Merdeka Belajar Curriculum in Facing The Society 5.0 Era

VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) is one of the difficulties faced by society in the 5.0 era, which is a combination of the virtual world and the physical world. Therefore, the global community must adapt quickly and be malleable to face the changes. The 4Cs (critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication) are essential 21st century skills. To keep up with global trends, the Indonesian government has implemented a curriculum that emphasizes individual initiative and responsibility. This study aims at analyzing the Merdeka Belajar curriculum by using quality education in Islamic perspective. Merdeka Belajar (Freedom to learn) is the latest government policy related to the education curriculum, and hence, islamic perspective - based analysis needs to be conducted to see how this concept of Merdeka Belajar is in Islamic education. This study was a descriptive qualitative study by using literature studies to collect the data. The results showed that the government's Merdeka Belajar curriculum system can accommodate the skills needed for the society 5.0 era. The concepts and programs of Merdeka Belajar can improve critical and creative thinking skills, and develop communication and collaboration skills as well. Merdeka Belajar directs students to be able to compete globally. Holistic Islamic education, however, does not only appreciate the importance of building skills, but also creates learning that glorifies knowledge without reducing Islamic values. Therefore, the independent current curriculum applied needs to be adjusted to keep in line with both the values and the 21st century skill development.

Examine the Competencies for Upskilling in VUCA Era (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) in Indonesia

A fundamental transformation in competency development is needed to create a smart civil servant and smart governance in the context of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity). The first step in the transformation is to define the competencies that are needed to address the challenges that occur. The findings of this study suggest new competencies to target for upskilling—the process of continuous learning for new skills—through formal training, self-learning, internships, and benchmarking. A focus group discussion with three ministries (the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, the National Research and Innovation Agency, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology) and a survey with a total of 416 Civil Servant from ministries, non-ministries, and provinces/districts, revealed that there is a change in the work environment nowadays, which makes the existing competencies need to be improved through upskilling. Based on the data finding there are two policy recommendations: 1. First, improvements are needed in the substance of upskilling/competency development so that it is more relevant to today’s changing environment. Collaboration was found to be the most important competency, and this finding supports the need to achieve the target of smart governance. Digital IT competency is needed in terms of smart governance through the collaboration. 2. Second, change in competency development methods from analog to digital, from pedagogy to heutagogy, and from training to learning.
 Keywords: VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity), gap competencies, upskilling, competency development, Indonesia

Bibliometric Analysis of Trends in Theory-related VUCA Publications

This study aims to determine the results of the research development on Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity (VUCA) based on the Scopus database analysed in 2012-2022 with Bibliometric analysis with VOSViewer. The research theme Innovation and Leadership had the highest attention with a percentage of 16%.. Next showed that there were seven main themes that focused on four major themes: leadership, leaders, management, and environment, with the correlation and connectedness of the results of the Cluster Analysis based on the Coefficient value.

Leadership in a VUCA context: Some foundational considerations

While a diverse range of literature offers ideas of potential value for leadership in the context of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), a model of leadership designed specifically to address such a context is lacking. Informed by a pre-existing framework for building context-sensitive models of leadership, this article explores the characteristics of VUCA conditions and draws out some foundational considerations this implies for leadership. The analysis suggests a range of leader behaviours, attributes and values that seem particularly salient to leading in a VUCA context, as well as discussing the overarching purpose of VUCA leadership. In sum, the article offers an analysis that identifies some foundational considerations of relevance to how leadership can be ethically and effectively enacted in a VUCA context.

Supply chain strategies in the VUCA world

Companies use supply chain strategies to achieve competitive advantage in the market. Volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) have been characteristics for the global supply chain in the past years. The COVID-19 pandemic led to factory and port closures, transport bottlenecks and lorry driver shortages, which have had an impact on the supply chain. The world has become less predictable, which requires companies to define supply chain strategies to cope with more risks and uncertainties. An updated supply chain strategy system integrating offerings, capabilities, vision and mission is described. A method to define the four types of capabilities — products, processes, equipment, digital tools — is explained. The approach to translate the strategy intent into action is based on the steps architecture, design, implementation and execution. This can be defined for the key capabilities that need to be aligned for the success of the business. An example explains the application of the approach in a company. Reviewing strategy can be now executed more regularly and standardised, accelerating the time to adapt the strategy to changed requirements. Defining and implementing the supply chain strategy are key tasks for many companies. A good supply chain strategy helps a company to improve the competitiveness in the markets. Understanding customer requirements and own capabilities, the supply chain strategy defines how the company will excel in the market and for the customer. As the supply chain is responsible for most customer-oriented processes, it typically translates the company strategy in an actionable format. Many companies struggle to define the supply chain strategy and evaluate it regularly to identify when this strategy needs to be updated. VUCA have characterised the supply chain world in the last years. In the last 18 months many additional supply chain disruptions have appeared and long-standing supply chain assumption have proved to be wrong. Many companies need to review and update their supply chain strategy to align their existing capabilities with the changed market requirements, acquire new capabilities and refocus their internal and external processes. This paper discusses how supply chain leaders can define a new strategy to cope with the changed situation.

Editorial

In times of heightened global uncertainties, media professionals, journalists and public communicators have been left with little or no guidance as to how to manage and communicate unprecedented events. Despite a wide recognition that contemporary life and media worlds have become increasingly complex, associated communication strategies for dealing with confusion and moving through turbulence have not kept pace. This Special Issue of the Journal of Applied Journalism and Media Studies (JAMS) revisits the almost forty-year-old acronym for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) and investigates how present experiences of chaos may benefit from the systems-thinking approaches of VUCA. The Special Issue seeks to make an argument for further development of VUCA models addressing the paucity of tools in existing chaos and complexity in communication strategies.

Military Actions Characteristics in Hybrid Operational Environments

Abstract The theoretical approaches regarding the security/operational environment aimed at a multidimensional and integrative perspective, because its understanding requires not only analysis of the physical terrain, but also the perspective of the actors involved, and of the factors from the informational environment (including cyberspace) and those specific to the civilian population. The field of contemporary military confrontations is extremely difficult to analyze because of the dynamics of the phenomenon and internal processes, of the implemented technologies and, last but not least, as a result of the manifestation of VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) characteristics within them. But, the effort of scientific investigations was directed starting from the premise that the identification of the characteristics and of the factors specific to the future confrontational environment serves as a starting point in the approach of conceptual-doctrinal and operational adaptation/transformation of the military forces. An attempt was made to find the answer to the question: which are the conditions, circumstances and factors characteristic of the confrontational environment that influence the efficiency and coherence of the actions of the engaged capabilities?

A Study on the Causes and Consequences Inter-State Migration and Reverse Migration in Tamil Nadu, India

In a huge populous country like India, migration is an acceptable reality and inevitable. It is a most effective tool for balancing between shortage of workers at one place and excess population at another area. In the present VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) business environment, Inter-state migration has socio-economic and political consequences in both donor and recipient states. Migrants do not always relocate willingly or voluntarily. Most of the migrations occur for economic reasons. If continuous employment and consistent income is guaranteed to everyone who are willing to work at all states, there is no need to migrate at all. The state of Tamil Nadu has been forerunner for inter-state migration; presently there is huge number of migrants working in the state. Places like Tirupur, Erode, Coimbatore, Chennai, Thiruvallur and Chengalpattu are having huge number in-migrants. While excessive inflow of migrants is economically advantageous to source states, it has mix of benefits and challenges to destination states. Long working hours, payment of low wages (about 70% of what the local workers get), poor living conditions, stagnated garbage and waste water, lack of sanitation facilities makes the lives of the migrants vulnerable. Reverse migration is an act of migrants getting back to home places. In extreme cases, migrants could not tolerate and decide to relocate to their native places. The decision made is not based on luxury or added quality of life at their places, but issues faced is migrated state It is a logical mechanism available to the migrant labourers when the whole economy is severely hit by a thunderstorm like covid-19.Migrants’ lives are badly affected to the standstill business environment which could not provide livelihood, shelter and any other social security this labour force. Migration is a constitutional right stronger implementation of labour and migration laws and More concrete measures to curb exploitation and harassment of in-migrants will only solve challenges in such a sensitive issue. The present study attempts to find out the impact of inter-state labour in-migration in Tamil and also the effect of reverse migration from the state.

Research on the Development of Image Processing Software Industry - Taking "Meitu Xiuxiu" and "Xingtu" as Examples

This research starts with an analysis of the operating models of two major image processing softwares, Meitu Xiuxiu and Xingtu, and then explores the changes and operating rules under new technological conditions. The study focuses on these new changes under the conditions of popular demand and new technology, and concludes on how to attract users as well as increase user stickiness and enhance the business value of the Meitu platform. The aim is to analyze the development path of the image beatification software industry. As the originator of photo retouching software, Meitu was once a must install software for many girls who loved beauty. It started at the peak and relentlessly developed corresponding mobile phones and original beauty brands. From the initial valuation of more than 10 million yuan, it is not difficult to found the expectation of the capital market. Given the fact that the world is in an era of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity), the VUCA will determine the unpredictability of changes in the pattern of current business world. To sum up, Meitu should dig deep into the content and build the content ecological core in the "beauty" field of its expertise.

Unleashing the power of supply chain learning: an empirical investigation

PurposeOrganisational learning plays a critical role for firms to keep abreast of a supply chain environment filled with volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA). This study investigates the extent to which supply chain learning (SCL) affects operational resilience under such circumstances.Design/methodology/approachThis study developed a research framework and underlying hypotheses based on SCL and information processing theory (IPT). An empirical test was carried out using secondary data derived from the “Supply Chain Policy” launched by the Chinese government and two large related conferences.FindingsSCL positively relates to operational resilience, and several moderators influence the relationship between them. The authors argue that digital-technological diversity could weaken the role of SCL in operational resilience, whereas customer concentration, and participating in a pilot programme could enhance the effect of SCL.Practical implicationsFirms should embrace the power of SCL in building resilience in the VUCA era. Meanwhile, they should be cautious of a digital-technological diversification strategy, appraise the customer base profile and proactively engage in pilot programmes.Originality/valueThis research develops the SCL construct further in the context of China and empirically measures its power on operational resilience using a unique dataset. This contributes to the theorisation of SCL.

Enterprise risk management literature: emerging themes and future directions

PurposeThis study aims to identify the publication phase, performance and scientific contributions of research papers related to enterprise risk management (ERM) and to visualise the emerging themes in addressing volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA).Design/methodology/approachThe biblioshiny technique based on the bibliometrix R package was used to draw journal papers’ performance and scientific contributions by displaying distinctive features from the bibliometric method used in prior studies. The data was extracted from the Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus databases.FindingsSince the 1990s, ERM publication has gained momentum, and it is generally categorised into four main themes. Studies by Miller (1992) and Bromiley et al. (2015) scored the highest in global and local citations, respectively. However, the Economic Outlook ranked first in quality of publications while the Journal of Risk and Insurance topped in quantity of publications. Collaborative research mainly exists between two authors, and the dynamic number of collaborative networks is evident in the USA.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited by the filtered keywords used to generate the search on journal papers’ in WOS and Scopus. It is imperative to have more comprehensive and rigorous analytics on ERM research to enable a direction for future research. Finally, ERM implementation better equips firms to mitigate risk in a VUCA environment.Originality/valueThis study attempts to fill a vacuum of ERM literature, specifically in business economics, in addressing VUCA. Moreover, it covers a comprehensive predetermined period of from its inception in 1983 until 2022.

Risk responses strategies of companies belonging to manufacturing clusters in Puerto Rico

PurposeThis paper discloses the risk management response strategies and the perceived effectiveness of the strategies employed by companies operating within manufacturing clusters in Puerto Rico from 2016 until 2020, the second year of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe research design consists of questionnaire-based survey responses from companies belonging to manufacturing clusters, followed by semi-structured interviews and secondary sources of information.FindingsThe results reveal the risk responses used to manage specific risk types. Albeit respondents' dependency on an assortment of company-centric and cluster-bound risk response strategies, the perception is that the former is more effective when adequate local sources are available and the latter when the cluster has strong interconnectedness among the cluster's members.Research limitations/implicationsFurthermore, there is a generalized belief that long-term cluster-bound strategies are required to complement individual companies' overall risk management strategies.Originality/valueThis paper demonstrated that due to the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) nature of the Caribbean region, mixed risk management might result in better and more favorable long-term performance.

Building Resilience for Surviving and Thriving in a VUCA Context

Surviving and thriving in the context of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) has become a pressing issue in international business. While contemporary international business scholarship offers insight into resilience-building under VUCA conditions, the mechanisms that link decision-making at the top with organizational action are less clear. We proffer a sand-clock model of resilience-building that combines resourcefulness, time interpretations, and entrepreneurial judgments. MNE decision-makers can apply the model to build resilience for surviving and thriving in a VUCA context by embracing sustainability, analyzing temporal signals, and making better judgments.