Abstract

ABUKALUSA, K.  and  OOSTHUIZEN, R.. Organisational adaptive leadership framework through systems thinking. S. Afr. J. Ind. Eng. [online]. 2023, vol.34, n.3, pp.245-257. ISSN 2224-7890.  http://dx.doi.org/10.7166/34-3-2955.

Leadership is a system that includes interconnected elements. Adaptive leadership is about enabling followers to handle adaptive challenges and to adapt to an ever-evolving environment. Organisations are experiencing the most dynamic era of the business environment owing to the influence of vulnerability, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). The VUCA nature of the environment presents adaptive challenges, which, unlike technical problems, need dynamic people-focused solutions. Current leadership frameworks are inadequate in practice, and a framework is needed to aid in creating adaptive organisations through systems thinking to succeed in a VUCA environment. This research approach starts with a systematic literature review to create a conceptual framework of adaptive leadership through systems thinking for a VUCA environment. The conceptual framework is validated through interviews with practising industry leaders to obtain their opinions and comments. The research provides a new perspective on using systems thinking in applying leadership practices to create an adaptive leadership framework to overcome the VUCA environment.

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