Since we are in a VUCA world, where volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity are the dominant characteristics, we need to be agile to adjust continuously.
The message of ‘enterprise agility’ is slowly being heard, if not yet accepted. There are still too many enterprises in all sectors which remain rigid, unable to adjust to the changing conditions.
They are in danger of becoming extinct.
So what is the root cause of this rigidity?
There are three root causes: fear, habits and ignorance.
They are found in the strangest of places, like those IT departments who feel the need to control by preventing the enterprise from embracing newer technology, platforms and other agile innovation. An earlier good example was the IT manager who adhered to main frames rather than open architecture, because of the IT manager’s lack of knowledge of the newer technology. I surely hope that there are no more of those still around!
It can be found in those HR departments that are moribund with compliance and processes plus a fundamental inability to actually deal effectively with difficult situations and people. They make it difficult to remove toxic people, and are often toxic themselves.
It can be found in those leaders who tolerate employees who refuse to learn, refuse to improve process and refuse to change – including tolerating those departments that often practice rigidity, like IT and HR.
Worse still it can be found in senior leadership who are risk averse, afraid to learn, and insistent upon believing they are more knowledgeable than they actually are.
Their legacy will be the extinction of their enterprise.
What do you think?