Leadership Challenges and the Role of Education in Forming Leaders in VUCA World

Abstract

Development of the technology, besides creating opportunities for the world, and making people’s lives easier on the one hand, has also created difficulties, on the other hand. The processes on the earth have accelerated, and the environment has become more unpredictable. That was the ground of emerging VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) in military services and afterwards in the business sector.

The rapid development of different directions, especially of technology, made mankind rethink about attitudes, find out, and expand their skills in order to be effective in the constantly changing environment. The reality that the competencies obtained before were not sufficient became obvious. Nowadays, VUCA leaders with their sophisticated and vital skills are extremely necessary for the business to reach the goal with minimal loss.

Higher education, as in every circumstance, in this case also has its huge impact and significance. Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) are responsible for education, which on its end, is the starting point of development and restructuring the complex reality. Redesigning the teaching and learning environment can prepare future VUCA leaders. In case the universities try to provide a new generation with the skills necessary for the existing reality rather than following the obsolete flow, the business sector will get workflow more prepared for VUCA challenges.

The chapter discusses and presents the necessity of updated leadership skills in the VUCA reality and the role of higher education in stepping forwards to turning VUCA disruptions into VUCA possibilities.

Citation

Buchashvili, G., Djakeli, K. and Kazaishvili, A. (2022), "Leadership Challenges and the Role of Education in Forming Leaders in VUCA World", Akkaya, B., Guah, M.W., Jermsittiparsert, K., Bulinska-Stangrecka, H. and Kaya, Y. (Ed.) Agile Management and VUCA-RR: Opportunities and Threats in Industry 4.0 towards Society 5.0, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 161-168. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-325-320220011