Share:


Adaptive strategies and sustainable investments: navigating organizations through a VUCA environment in and after COVID-19

    Mihaela Minciu Affiliation
    ; Cristina Veith Affiliation
    ; Razvan Catalin Dobrea Affiliation
    ; Vladimir-Codrin Ionescu Affiliation

Abstract

This study delves into the resilience and adaptability of employees within the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) business environment, examining their readiness to manage effectively and the organizational agility in navigating change, alongside the impact of sustainable investment practices. Employing quantitative methods, a survey was conducted among employees at two pivotal moments: during and after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Factorial analysis revealed a strong preference for participatory work styles and highlighted the critical need for employee involvement in significant decision-making processes. Although the value of sustainable investments was recognized, a noticeable gap was found in employees’ understanding and adaptability towards these investments. The use of the Wilcoxon test illuminated the significant impact of external disruptions, such as the pandemic, on organizational operations and preparedness. The findings underscore the imperative for organizations to champion continuous learning and training, enabling strategic and innovative responses to the challenges unique to the VUCA world. By aligning adaptive interventions with the demands of the VUCA environment, organizations can define a clear trajectory towards sustainable growth and enhance their proactive stance against sudden shifts in the business landscape.


First published online 10 September 2024

Keyword : VUCA, sustainable investments, organizational strategy, participatory decision-making, external disruptions, COVID-19

How to Cite
Minciu, M., Veith, C., Dobrea, R. C., & Ionescu, V.-C. (2024). Adaptive strategies and sustainable investments: navigating organizations through a VUCA environment in and after COVID-19. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 1-24. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2024.22058
Published in Issue
Sep 10, 2024
Abstract Views
524
PDF Downloads
290
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Akkaya, B., Panait, M., Apostu, S., & Kaya, Y. (2022). Agile leadership and perceived career success: The mediating role of job embeddedness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, Article 4834. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084834

Armenia, S., Dangelico, R. M., Nonino, F., & Pompei, A. (2019). Sustainable project management: A conceptualization-oriented review and a framework proposal for future studies. Sustainability, 11(9), Article 2664. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092664

Baltaci, A., & Balci, A. (2017). Complexity leadership: A theoretical perspective. International Journal of Educational Leadership and Management, 5(1), 30–58. https://doi.org/10.17583/ijelm.2017.2435

Bayart, C., Bertezene, S., & Vallat, D. (2013). Les “serious games”: des leviers en faveur du knowledge management (Working Papers hal-00846779). HAL.

Bennett, N., & Lemoine, J. (2014). What a difference a word makes: Understanding threats to performance in a VUCA world. Business Horizons, 57, 311–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2014.01.001

Biekša, K., Zonienė, A., & Valiulė, V. (2021). Sustainable investment – A solution to reduce environmental footprint. Energies, 14(11), Article 3104. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14113104

Bienkowska, A., & Tworek, K. (2022). Controlling and its influence on organizations’ functioning under conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustainability, 14(24), Article 16644. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416644

Biron, M., De Cieri, H., Fulmer, I., Lin, C.-H., Mayrhofer, W., Nyfoudi, M., Sanders, K., Shipton, H., & Sun, J. M. (2020). Structuring for innovative responses to human resource challenges: A skunk works approach. Human Resource Management Review, 31(2), Article 100768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2020.100768

Boiral, O., Brotherton, M., Rivaud, L., & Guillaumie, L. (2021). Organizations’ management of the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review of business articles. Sustainability, 13(7), Article 3993. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073993

Breakspear, S. (2017). Embracing agile leadership for learning: How leaders can create impact despite growing complexity. Australian Educational Leader, 39(3), 68–71.

Büyüköztürk, S. (2010). Sosyal Bilimler İçin Veri Analizi El Kitabı: Istatistik. Araştırma Deseni. SSPS Uygulamaları ve Yorum. PegemYayınları.

Cottong, S. (2020). What are the characteristics of the VUCA world, including the current sanitary crisis? https://www.advuca.com/post/what-are-the-characteristics-of-the-vuca-world-including-the-current-sanitary-crisis

De Magalhães, R., De Danilevicz, Â., & Palazzo, J. (2019). Managing trade-offs in complex scenarios: A decision-making tool for sustainability projects. Journal of Cleaner Production, 212, 447–460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.12.023

Deepika, D., & Chitranshi, J. (2020). Leader readiness of Gen Z in VUCA business environment. Foresight, 23(2), 154–171. https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-05-2020-0048

Doheny, M., Nagali, V., & Weig, F. (2012). Agile operations for volatile times. McKinsey Quarterly.

Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, D. L., Coombs, C., Constantiou, I., Duan, Y., Edwards, J. S., Gupta, B., Lal, B., Misra, S., Prashant, P., Raman, R., Rana, N. P., Sharma, S. K., & Upadhyay, N. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on information management research and practice: Transforming education, work and life. International Journal of Information Management, 55, Article 102211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102211

Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with Forks: The triple bottom line of 21st century business. Capstone Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.3310080106

Frankowska, M., Swierczek, A., & Cheba, K. (2023). The role of double-loop learning in manufacturing supply chains. The study of the disruptions driven by COVID-19 in Poland. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 29(1), 253–277, https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2022.17799

Galema, R., Plantinga, A., & Scholtens, B. (2008). The stocks at stake: Return and risk in socially responsible investment. Journal of Banking & Finance, 32(12), 2646–2654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2008.06.002

Garcia, S., Cintra, Y., Torres, R. d., & Lima, F. (2016). Corporate sustainability management: a proposed multi-criteria model to support balanced decision making. Journal of Cleaner Production, 136, 181–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.01.110

Gasparatos, A., El-Haram, M., & Horner, M. (2008). A critical review of reductionist approaches for assessing the progress towards sustainability. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 28, 286–311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2007.09.002

Grzybowska, K., & Tubis, A. (2022). Supply chain resilience in reality VUCA – An International Delphi Study. Sustainability, 14(17), Article 10711. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710711

Gu, J., Wang, Z., Xu, Z., & Chen, X. (2018). A decision-making framework based on the prospect theory under an intuitionistic fuzzy environment. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 24(6), 2374–2396. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2018.6981

Hadar, L., Ergas, O., Alpert, B., & Ariav, T. (2020). Rethinking teacher education in a VUCA world: student teachers’ social-emotional competencies during the Covid-19 crisis. European Journal of Teacher Education, 43(4), 573–586. https://doi.org/10.1080/02619768.2020.1807513

Hahn, T., Preuss, L., Pinkse, J., & Figge, F. (2014). Cognitive frames in corporate sustainability: Managerial sensemaking with paradoxical and business case frames. Academy of Management Review, 39(4), 463–487. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2012.0341

Hansen, E. G., & Schaltegger, S. (2016). The sustainability balanced scorecard: A systematic review of architectures. Journal of Business Ethics, 133(2), 193–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2340-3

He, H., & Harris, L. (2020). The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on corporate social responsibility and marketing philosophy. Journal of Business Research, 116, 176–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.05.030

Henderson, R. (2015). Making the business case for sustainability (Harvard Business Review Working Paper Series, No. 15-068). https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198704072.003.0002

Jay, J., & Gerard, M. (2015). Accelerating the theory and practice of sustainability-oriented innovation. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2629683

Kail, E. (2010). Leading effectively in a VUCA environment: C is for complexity. HBR Blog Network. https://hbr.org/2010/12/leading-effectively-in-a-vuca

Kaivo-oja, J., & Lauraeus, I. (2018). The VUCA approach as a solution concept to corporate foresight challenges and global technological disruption. Foresight, 20(1), 27–49. https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-06-2017-0022

Karmaker, C. L., Ahmed, T., Ahmed, S., Ali, S. M., Moktadir, M. A., & Kabir, G. (2021). Improving supply chain sustainability in the context of COVID-19 pandemic in an emerging economy: Exploring drivers using an integrated model. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 26, 411–427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.09.019

Keshavarz Ghorabaee, M., Amiri, M., Olfat, L., & Khatami Firouzabadi, S. (2017). Designing a multi-product multi-period supply chain network with reverse logistics and multiple objectives under uncertainty. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 23(3), 520–548. https://doi.org/10.3846/20294913.2017.1312630

Kim, K., & Lee, S.-M. (2018). Does sustainability affect corporate performance and economic development? Evidence from the Asia-Pacific region and North America. Sustainability, 10, Article 909. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10040909

Kline, T. J. (2014). Psychological testing: A practical approach to design and evaluation. SAGE Publications, Inc.

Krawczyńska-Zaucha, T. (2019). A New paradigm of management and leadership in the VUCA world. Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology – Organization and Management Series, 141, 221–230. https://doi.org/10.29119/1641-3466.2019.141.16

Kudratova, S., Huang, X., & Zhou, X. (2018). Sustainable project selection: Optimal project selection considering sustainability under reinvestment strategy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 203, 469–481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.08.259

Latinovic, M., & Obradovic, T. (2013). The performance of socially responsible investments. Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, 1(2), 29–40. https://doi.org/10.15678/EBER.2013.010203

Lawrence, K. (2013). Developing leaders in a VUCA environment. UNC Executive Development.

Liu, L., Huang, J., & Li, H. (2022). Estimating the real shock to the economy from COVID-19: Texample of electricity use in China. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 28(5), 1221–1241. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2022.17027

Marcelino-Sadaba, S., Gonzalez-Jaen, L., & Perez-Ezcurdia, A. (2015). Using project management as a way to sustainability. From a comprehensive review to a framework definition. Journal of Cleaner Production, 99, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.03.020

Milne, M. J., & Gray, R. (2013). W(h)ither Ecology? The triple bottom line, the global reporting initiative, and corporate sustainability reporting. Journal of Business Ethics, 118(1), 13–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1543-8

Minciu, M. (2023). Abordari ale managementului investitiilor sustenabile in contextul lumii VUCA. Editura ASE.

Minciu, M., Berar, F. A., & Dobrea, R. C. (2021). The challenges of the VUCA world in the development of sustainable investment projects. Management and Economics Review, 6(2), 193–204. https://doi.org/10.24818/mer/2021.12-04

Minciu, M., Dobrea, R. C., Staiculescu, C., & Stoica, B. S. (2020). The impact of the epidemic generated by the SARS-COV-2 virus in the context of the VUCA world. Management and Economics Review, 5(2), 246–254. https://doi.org/10.24818/mer/2020.12-05

Mohagheghi, V., Mousavi, S. M., Antuchevičienė, J., & Mojtahedi, M. (2019). Project portfolio selection problems: A review of models, uncertainty approaches, solution techniques, and case studies. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 25(6), 1380–1412. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2019.11410

Munoz, C. A., Davila, A. M., Mosey, S., & Radrigan, M. (2021). Exploring participatory management in social enterprise practice: Evidence from Chile. Voluntas, 32, 1096–1112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-021-00367-1

Nofsinger, J., & Varma, A. (2014). Socially responsible funds and market crises. Journal of Banking and Finance, 48, 180–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2013.12.016

Nowacka, A., & Rzemieniak, M. (2022). The impact of the VUCA environment on the digital competences of managers in the power industry. Energies, 15, Article 185. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15010185

Ocicka, B., Rogowski, W., & Turek, J. (2022). Industry 4.0 technologies as enablers of sustainability risk management. Ekonomia i Prawo. Economics and Law, 21(4), 727–740. https://doi.org/10.12775/EiP.2022.039

Özata, B. C., & Birol, C. (2018). Science students’ friendship communication effectiveness scale. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 14(5), 1867–1873. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/85422

Peng, X. Y., Zou, X. Y., Zhao, X. X., & Chang, C. P. (2023). How does economic policy uncertainty affect green innovation? Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 29(1), 114–140. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2022.17760

Pranevičius, H., & Šutiene, K. (2008). Copula effect on investment portfolio of an insurance company. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 14(3), 344–373. https://doi.org/10.3846/1392-8619.2008.14.344-373

Recker, M., & Michelfelder, I. (2017). Sustainable entrepreneurship: How to measure future sustainability impact for early stage new ventures. In Innovation management, entrepreneurship and sustainability (IMES 2017) (pp. 821–831). Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze.

Renneboog, L., Ter Horst, J., & Zhang, C. (2008). Socially responsible investments: Institutional aspects, performance, and investor behavior. Journal of Banking and Finance, 32, 1723–1742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2007.12.039

Rudolph, C. W. (2017). Career adaptability: A metaanalysis of relationships with measures of adaptivity, adapting responses, and adaption results. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 98, 17–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2016.09.002

Rutkauskas, A. V., & Stasytytė, V. (2011). Optimal portfolio search using efficient surface and threedimensional utility function. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 17(2), 305–326. https://doi.org/10.3846/20294913.2011.580589

Sakalauskas, L. (2010). Sustainability models and indicators. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 16(4), 567–577. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2010.35

Saunila, M., Ukko, J., & Rantala, T. (2018). Sustainability as a driver of green innovation investment and exploitation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 179, 631–641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.211

Schick, A., Hobson, P., & Ibisch, P. (2017). Conservation and sustainable development in a VUCA world: The need for a systemic and ecosystem-based approach. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability, 3(4), Article e01267. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehs2.1267

Seetharaman, P. (2020). Business models shifts: Impact of Covid-19. International Journal of Information Management, 54, Article 102173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102173

Shodrokova, X., Asngari, I., & Hidayat, A. (2023). Loan-to-deposit ratio analysis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Management and Economics Review, 8(1), 35–45. https://doi.org/10.24818/mer/2023.02-03

Silvestre, W., Antunes, P., & Leal Filho, W. (2018). The corporate sustainability typology: Analysing sustainability drivers and fostering sustainability at enterprises. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 24(2), 513–533. https://doi.org/10.3846/20294913.2016.1213199

Sullivan, J. (2012, January 16). VUCA: The new normal for talent management and workforce planning. https://www.ere.net/vuca-the-new-normal-for-talent-management-and-workforce-planning/

Sustainable Investment Forum Europe. (2021). Aligning cross border initiatives to enhance ESG and responsible investing. https://www.unepfi.org/events/sustainable-investment-forum-europe-2021/

Tan, Y., Ochoa, J., Langston, C., & Shen, L. (2015). An empirical study on the relationship between sustainability performance and business competitiveness of international construction contractors. Journal of Cleaner Production, 93, 273–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.01.034

United Nations. (2021). The 17 Goals. https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Vitor, G. (2019). Environmentally sustainable investment: Dynamics between global thematic indices. Cuadernos de Gestión, 19, 41–62. https://doi.org/10.5295/cdg.150545vg

Wen, Y., Chen, H., Li, K., & Gu, X. (2020). The challenges of life design counseling in the times of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 530372. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01235

Worley, C. G., & Jules, C. (2020). COVID-19’s Uncomfortable revelations about agile and sustainable organizations in a VUCA world. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 56(3), 279–283. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886320936263