Towards the Building of Organisational Resilience

To become resilient, the organisation needs to develop certain characteristics that were not so crucial in running the business in former years but have become so essential in today’s business.

For a firm, not being able to adjust quickly may lead to death and extinction. The objective of this article is to describe the principal features of organisational resilience, with an emphasis on culture, structure, leadership, and other relevant features.The Deloitte report has identified five characteristics of resilient organisations that enabled and promoted nimble strategies, adaptive cultures, and the implementation and effective use of advanced technology.

"A culture of business resilience is a mindset and set of values that prioritise the ability to adapt, recover, and thrive in the face of adversity or disruption," writes Dr. Simon L. Dolan, Professor at Advantere School of Management, Dr. Adnane Belout, Professor at the University of Montreal, Dr. Jean-Luc Cerdin, Professor at ESSEC Business School, and Javier Casademunt, Director of the Brazilian branch of the Global Future of Work Foundation.

The article is a call to action for organisations to develop a culture of resilience by aligning values with corporate objectives, identifying potential risks, creating detailed response plans, and fostering continuous learning and innovation. By implementing these strategies, businesses can enhance their ability to withstand and recover from adversity, thereby ensuring long-term success.

Here are a few key takeaways:

• Importance of Resilience in a VUCA World: In today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment, organisational resilience has become a critical factor for long-term success and sustainability. Companies must prepare for unexpected disruptions and be ready to pivot strategies to stay competitive.
• Essential Characteristics for Resilience: Organisations need to develop new characteristics such as adaptability, agility, and foresight. These traits enable businesses to quickly adjust to market changes, anticipate potential risks, and seize emerging opportunities, ensuring continuous growth and stability.
• Culture of Business Resilience: Building a culture that prioritises resilience involves encouraging employees to embrace change, fostering a mindset of continuous improvement, and investing in training and development. This cultural shift helps organisations recover swiftly from setbacks and emerge stronger.

Dr. Simon L. Dolan is a Professor at Advantere School of Management.

Dr. Adnane Belout is a Professor at the University of Montreal.

Dr. Jean-Luc Cerdin is a Professor at ESSEC Business School.

Javier Casademunt is the Director of the Brazilian branch of the Global Future of Work Foundation.

You can read the full article for free on our website.

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