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Examining Dimensions of Flexibility under Uncertainty


Affiliations
1 GL Bajaj Institute of Management & Research, Greater Noida, India
2 The NorthCap University, Gurugram, India
     

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The importance of Organizational flexibility in organizational setting is essential in today's VUCA environment. Increased flexibility will be conducive to the necessary compliance and dynamism of globalized culture and turbulent environments. Given the need to examine the dynamics of flexibility, this paper is intending to explore the key factors, which influences the process of incorporation of flexibility; or influenced by incorporated flexibility in organizational settings. In first part of the paper, rigorous literature review identifies the various elements or dimensions of flexibility. In the later part the most relevant flexibility dimensions are ranked in order to find out key dimensions influencing organizational flexibility. The findings of this study provide evidence that there are nine dimensions of flexibility, i.e. functional, strategic, numerical, human resource, structural, financial, team, turbulence and significant others. Incorporating these flexibility dimensions in practice can support achievement of organizational excellence. Analysis of opinion of management professionals collected through survey questionnaire shows that strategic, functional and structural flexibilities are the key dimensions in successfully shaping the organization in new and turbulent environment.

Keywords

Dynamic Environment, Organizational Flexibility, Flexibility Dimensions, Garrette Ranking, Stability, Turbulent Environment.
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  • Examining Dimensions of Flexibility under Uncertainty

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Authors

Alpana Agarwal
GL Bajaj Institute of Management & Research, Greater Noida, India
Prem Vrat
The NorthCap University, Gurugram, India

Abstract


The importance of Organizational flexibility in organizational setting is essential in today's VUCA environment. Increased flexibility will be conducive to the necessary compliance and dynamism of globalized culture and turbulent environments. Given the need to examine the dynamics of flexibility, this paper is intending to explore the key factors, which influences the process of incorporation of flexibility; or influenced by incorporated flexibility in organizational settings. In first part of the paper, rigorous literature review identifies the various elements or dimensions of flexibility. In the later part the most relevant flexibility dimensions are ranked in order to find out key dimensions influencing organizational flexibility. The findings of this study provide evidence that there are nine dimensions of flexibility, i.e. functional, strategic, numerical, human resource, structural, financial, team, turbulence and significant others. Incorporating these flexibility dimensions in practice can support achievement of organizational excellence. Analysis of opinion of management professionals collected through survey questionnaire shows that strategic, functional and structural flexibilities are the key dimensions in successfully shaping the organization in new and turbulent environment.

Keywords


Dynamic Environment, Organizational Flexibility, Flexibility Dimensions, Garrette Ranking, Stability, Turbulent Environment.

References