What is VUCA? ...and VUCA' (VUCA Prime)
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- Опубліковано 28 лип 2024
- VUCA. It's a VUCA world. You've heard it a lot. Have you ever wondered what it means?
If you don't know and have wondered, well now's your chance to find out. I'll answer the questions:
What is VUCA, and
What is VUCA' (VUCA Prime)
VUCA stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity.
The VUCA acronym VUCA was coined in the 1990s, in the military. But it sums up much of what the modern world feels like. Never more so than in 2020!
Project managers need to deal with the impacts of:
• Constant change
• Shifting priorities
• Immense interdependency
• Flexible allegiances
VUCA extends from the battlefield to business. We all live in a VUCA world. Let's see what the four components of VUCA mean.
Volatility
Volatility is about the rapid pace of change. The term suggests the sense that things can suddenly change state, rather than evolve.
Uncertainty
Rapid changes make it hard to see what’s coming around the next bend. Your inability to foresee what’s next is unsettling.
Complexity
Our modern societies are far more interconnected than ever before. Your organization is a part of a huge web of interdependent players, processes, and technology. And we are moving towards connecting every device that has a switch into a vast internet of things (IOT). This means we have replaced simple cause and effect with intermeshed feedback loops. The product of one small action is now inherently unpredictable.
Ambiguity
What does this mean? There are many possible answers and an infinity of potential futures. One event might have multiple meanings. None is ‘true’ nor are they ‘false’. They are part of a network of meanings. You need to adapt to a fuzzy reality.
The Antidote to VUCA: VUCA Prime (VUCA')
Bob Johanson coined the terms ‘VUCA prime’. It is an alternative acronym with four counterpoints to Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity.
Johanson first articulated VUCA Prime in his 2007 book, ‘Get There Early: Sensing the Future to Compete in the Present’ (geni.us/sEPUuQ).
‘VUCA Prime’ is a reversal of the VUCA elements to form a new acronym:
Vision
Ability to see through the turbulence of volatility, towards your end-goal.
Understanding
An antidote to uncertainty. Invest your time to get to grips with the patterns.
Clarity
Cut through the complexity to find simple underlying patterns. These are what drive the whole complex structure.
Agility
Select from many ambiguous alternatives… and then to switch again if your last choice is not ideal.
Subsequently, Bill George, at Harvard Business School, has put forward a similar (too similar?) VUCA 2.0 framework of: Vision, Understanding, Courage, and Adaptability.
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#VUCA #VUCAprime #VUCA'
I also have a short course on How to Thrive in a VUCA Workplace. You can preview the content here: mikeclayton.usefedora.com/p/how-to-thrive-in-a-vuca-workplace/
Anyone who wants to can use the code UA-camVUCA on checkout to get a 65% discount.
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You are a genius, Mike. Love it
Thank you.
I am doing a self learning program on Risk Management as a part of ICAI course. I came across VUCA and I wanted to dive deep and landed here.. very helpful explanation.. good luck sir
Thank you.
Thank You for sharing this. I was literally scratching my head reading and rereading VIC definition on PMBOK to no avail! And then I came across this and it is so fluid clear in my head now... Thank YOU
You’re very welcome, Meena.
Here is my contribution to the concept. If we put VUCA in the context of the Fixed Mindset we get the contents of the video. In fact, it could be even worse as there is a lot of litter left behind. However, if we approach VUCA from the Growth Mindset it motivates us, even excites us to find VUCA2.
Yes, I agree. We can see VUCA as an opportunity for change, learning, and growth.
Very indicative of SHRM in general: confidently vague. Still the best video on the subject.
SHRM? Society of Human Resource Management? If it is, I have no connection with SHRM and neither am I an HR professional. But, thank you for the sideways compliment!
@Onlinepmcourses strategic human resource management. The subject loves VUCA. I think you presented the material well, I just personally don't think highly of the model. My critique is purely on the subject matter, not your delivery.
@@kmdewhurst Okay, thank you.
Very helpful. Your passion when delivering this explanation really helped me to understand what living in a VUCA world means.
Thank you very much.
You successfully explained it for us
Thank you - my pleasure.
WONDERFUL EXPLANATION SIR.. THANK YOU
It's my pleasure.
Brilliant inroduction to VUCA. Thanks Mike
Thank you Frank.
Very well explained
Thank you.
Thank you for this video, please make more like this good one as they drive value to understand our changing business world
Well, I have made over 300 videos on this channel - and make 2 new ones every week!
@@Onlinepmcourses ❤️🌞
very concise explanation thankyou!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for that ''first -to-hear'' aspect. However, what I need to understand is how to apply that in real life. Meaning, in order to deal with VUCA in a new technology project, for instance, is there a cost contingency to be added to the project budget or time buffer and how to calculate such numbers and achieve buy-in with the client, how these terms can be addressed as risks. Should be any dedicated team to tackle any ambiguities (Agile engineers?) for example.
Thank you. While contingency in both budget and schedule are valuable, it is the set of behaviors and processes that will enable you to spot patterns and respond quickly. Without a doubt, Agile PM is a response to VUCA in software development projects but whatever options you choose, you have to understand your reasons for them and persuade stakeholders and governance tiers to your project that the approaches (and inevitable costs) are a worthwhile investment to handle the unexpected (and, by the way, there will be a video on Black Swan events in the autumn).
You can set yup a dedicated team for ambiguities - but I prefer making the whole team aware of the VUCA nature of your domain and harnessing the larger group for horizon scanning. You can then draw down a suitable group for any problem solving, as it arises.
I also have a short course on How to Thrive in a VUCA Workplace. You can preview the content here: mikeclayton.usefedora.com/p/how-to-thrive-in-a-vuca-workplace/
Anyone who wants to can use the code UA-camVUCA on checkout to get a 65% discount.
Love this video
Thank you
Thank you
You're welcome
Never heard of this concept before. Project management seems to be a way to operationalize VUCA’, given the phases of PM. Is there a formal methodology behind VUCA’ - like, is there a systematic way to approach it? Or is just a framework to guide an approach you already have?
There is no formal methodology to VUCA'. Indeed, I suspect the process of optimizing is contrary to the nature of VUCA contexts. As soon as you get close to a process you can operationalize, the world will move under your feet!
Online PM Courses - Mike Clayton Ah. Good point.
You successfully explained it for us
Fantastic!
You successfully explained it for us
Great!