VUCA to BANI World: Cultivating Soft Skills for Organizational Resilience

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5 MIN READ   |  Last Updated on 13 April 2024

BY: Kanchana Nirupamala (E223799)


Source: (Dissanayake, 2023)

We have now become used to the “Change Being the Only Constant." People and organizations must constantly adapt to an ever-changing world of fast technology, shifting global economic power, environmental crises, and changing social norms. Two well-known frameworks often used to characterize the difficulties and unknowns of this dynamic setting are VUCA and BANI.


VUCA vs BANI
Source: (Schreiber, 2023)

What is VUCA?

VUCA stands for "Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity". The United States Army War College first used it in the late 1980s to characterize the post-Cold War world, which was more complicated, unstable, and unpredictable (Bennett & Lemoine, 2014). Companies and other groups have started using the word to indicate their problematic working conditions.


VUCA Explained
Source: (Penteado, 2022) 

What is BANI?

Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible is the acronym for BANI. To supplement or expand upon the VUCA model, anthropologist and futurist Jamais Cascio presented it in 2018 at an Institute for the Future (IFTF) event in California as a framework to characterize the features of our present and future environment (IFTF, 2024). According to the BANI framework, people and businesses must cultivate new habits of resilience, empathy, flexibility, and critical thinking to adapt to and succeed in an ever-changing and complicated environment.

BANI Explained
Source: (Kraaijenbrink, 2023)

 

World is No Longer VUCA; It’s BANI

There are significant distinctions between BANI and VUCA, even though both frameworks focus on uncertainty and volatility. A critical distinction is that VUCA focuses on external factors; thus, adaptability, agility, and the ability to react to external changes are the response approaches. On the other hand, BANI addresses both internal and external dynamics. As such, resilience, anxiety management, embracing the complexity and addressing the internal issues should be the response approach (Dieffenbacher, 2023). We no longer live in a VUCA world, it's BANI (Batterman Consulting, 2024). The shift from VUCA to BANI demonstrates a deeper understanding of the anxiety, complexity, ambiguity, and uncertainty associated with contemporary challenges. The VUCA model emphasises how change is inherently vague and subject to constant revision. Sudden, crippling, and psychologically and practically challenging changes are what BANI envisions for the future.

 


VUCA vs BANI

Source: (Dieffenbacher, 2023).

Check out this video for more insights on VUCA vs. BANI World

Source: (Learn Transformation, 2022)

 

Art of Soft Skills in the BANI World

In the BANI world, hard skills are no longer sufficient. Having a diverse skill set that includes soft skills is essential for staying ahead in today's workplace, which is known for its complexity, ambiguity, and fast change. What we call "hard skills" are the actual abilities, knowledge, and competences needed to do a job well. Conversely, "soft skills" are an individual's character attributes and characteristics that influence their success on the work. Lubart and Lamri (2023) state that although soft skills are advantageous in any field, hard talents are more often linked to a particular occupation. Having a diverse set of soft skills, such as adaptability, perseverance, and a thirst for knowledge, is crucial for thriving in a BANI workplace.

Brittleness

  • Resilience and Adaptability: The ability to bounce back quickly from failure and adjust to new circumstances is crucial in fragile settings where systems and structures might collapse at any moment.
  • Crisis Management: Good emergency management and response skills lessen the effects of brittleness.

Anxiousness

  • Emotional Intelligence: Anxieties caused by unpredictability and change may be lessened via self-awareness and emotional regulation skills and by developing empathy for others who are going through difficult times.
  • Stress Management: To avoid burnout and promote a good work-life balance, it is crucial to have skills in stress management and mental health maintenance.

 Non linearity

  • Creative and Innovative Thinking: Solutions to nonlinear issues must also be nonlinear. One has to be creative and innovative to solve problems in ways that aren't clear at first glance.
  • Systems Thinking: To successfully navigate nonlinear complexity, one must have a broad understanding of the system as a whole and the interplay between its many components.

Incomprehensibility

  • Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: To successfully analyze circumstances and make educated judgments, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are necessary for making sense of complicated and sometimes contradicting information.
  • Continuous Learning: Staying current and productive in a world that isn't very clear and changing quickly requires the capacity to learn new things constantly.

HR's Role in Refining Soft Skills for a BANI Age

The importance of human resources in creating future-proof, creative, and adaptable organizations is highlighted by this remark by the famous entrepreneur and co-founder of Virgin Group, Richard Branson.

Source: (Rapid Results, 2017)

The days when human resources departments mainly dealt with paperwork and mundane administrative duties are over. They have evolved into strategic allies who now conduct a growth-inducing journey of talent and innovation (Jo et al., 2024). In this BANI world, human resources experts are the ones who build a company's workforce skills.

  • Training and Development: Human resources can provide courses that teach "soft skills" like how to communicate effectively, interact well with others, lead well, and understand and manage emotions. These programs aim to improve these talents via various means, such as workshops, seminars, or online courses.
  • Culture Building: To promote soft skills, HR may help create a work environment that focuses on constant improvement, teamwork, and flexibility.
  • Recruitment:  To make sure that new recruits have the technical and soft skills necessary to thrive in a BANI environment, HR may include evaluations of these talents into the hiring process.
  • Mentoring, coaching and feedback: Staff members may hone their soft skills by participating in mentoring and coaching programmes, where they get insight from more seasoned colleagues. Workers may be able to see the impact of their silky abilities on the job and pinpoint areas that may benefit from training by using feedback loops.
  • Employee well-being: Anxiety may be lessened, and emotional resilience can be strengthened via HR's assistance with mental health and stress management programs.

To Conclude……… 

In order to make the transition to a BANI world, it is necessary to take a new approach to the development of skills, with soft skills playing an important part in this transformation. Through the promotion of the development of soft skills, human resources is doing more than just preparing individuals and organisations for the future. It is actively constructing a corporate landscape that is resilient, emotionally intelligent, and adaptive in order to handle the nonlinear and incomprehensible issues of our day.

References

  • Batterman Consulting, (2024). VUCA is dead - long live BANI. [Online]. Available at: https://www.batterman.ch/en/vuca-is-dead-long-life-bani/. Accessed 26 March 2024.
  • Bennett, N. & Lemoine, G. J., (2014). What VUCA Means for You. [Online]. Available at https://hbr.org/2014/01/what-vuca-really-means-for-you. Accessed on 25 March 2024.
  • Dissanayake, N., (2023). Understanding and Navigating the BANI and VUCA Worlds. [Online]. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/understanding-navigating-bani-vuca-worlds-neranjan-dissanayake/. Accessed 26 March 2024.
  • Dieffenbacher, S., (2023). BANI World: What is it and Why We Need it?. [Online]. Available at https://digitalleadership.com/blog/bani world/#VUCA_WORLD_VS_BANI_WORLD. Accessed on 26 March 2024.
  • IFTF, (2024). Jamais Cascio. [Online]. Available at: https://www.iftf.org/people/jamais-cascio/. Accessed on 25 March 2024.
  • Jo, J., Chadwick, C. & Han, J. H., (2024). How the human resource (HR) function adds strategic value: A relational perspective of the HR function. Human Resource Management, 63(1), pp. 1-159. [Online] Available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hrm.22184#:~:text=Integrating%20insights%20from%20various%20streams,toward%20its%20internal%20stakeholders%20(i.e.%2C. Accessed on 25 March 2024.
  • Kraaijenbrink, J., (2023). What Bani Really Means And The Four Illusions It Breaks. [Online]. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7026583255785099264/. Accessed on 25 March 2024.
  • Learn Transformation, (2022). VUCA vs BANI | VUCA BANI world | VUCA BANI | VUCA World | BANI World |. [Online]  Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUuna6i8ZA8. Accessed on 26 March 2024.
  • Lubart, T. & Lamri, J., (2023). Reconciling Hard Skills and Soft Skills in a Common Framework: The Generic Skills Component Approach. Journal of Intelligence, 11(107), pp. 1-19. [Online]. Available at https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/11/6/107. Accessed on 25 March 2024.
  • Penteado, C., (2022). Welcome to the VUCA World! [Online]. Available at https://www.thepeopleside.com/blog/what-the-heck-is-vuca. Accessed 25 March 2024.
  • Rapid Results, (2017). Personal Development in Middle & Upper Leadership Positions. [Online]. Available at: https://rapidresults.co.nz/personal-development-in-middle-and-upper-leadership-positions/. Accessed on 26 March 2024.
  • Schreiber, B., (2023). VUCA vs. BANI: The corporate strategies of the future. [Online]. Available at https://www.schulmeister-consulting.com/en/magazine/overview/detail/vuca-vs-bani-the-corporate-strategies-of-the-future. Accessed on 25 March 2024.  

Comments

  1. Dinesha Paranagama ELMSApril 6, 2024 at 10:35 AM

    Your article on navigating the shift from VUCA to BANI worlds is incredibly insightful. You break down complex concepts like volatility and ambiguity in a way that's easy to grasp, and your comparison of the two frameworks is illuminating. I especially appreciate your focus on the importance of soft skills in the BANI world, and your suggestions for how HR can cultivate these skills within organisations are spot on. Keep up the fantastic work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kanchana Nirupamala (E223799)April 8, 2024 at 4:24 AM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Kanchana Nirupamala (E223799)April 8, 2024 at 4:53 AM

      Thank you Dinesha! Yes we shoudln't undermine the soft skills in today's BANI world. Hope you enjoyed reading

      Delete
  2. Anjali Hettiarachchi E225448April 6, 2024 at 12:10 PM

    very useful article with useful points.keep it up!!! good job

    ReplyDelete
  3. manojidilushaApril 8, 2024 at 6:02 AM

    Nicely described soft skills in BARNI world very attractive article. Good job keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sameera SandaruwanApril 8, 2024 at 10:32 AM

    Overall, the blog effectively articulates the importance of soft skills in the BANI world and highlights HR's strategic role in cultivating these skills within organizations. By prioritizing soft skills development, HR can play a vital role in building resilient, emotionally intelligent, and adaptive workplaces capable of addressing the challenges of today's dynamic environment.

    ReplyDelete
  5. LAthan (E223750)April 9, 2024 at 6:39 AM

    Reading this blog was eye-opening! It explains how our world is changing and how organizations need to adapt. I learned about two frameworks: VUCA and BANI. VUCA focuses on external factors, while BANI looks at both internal and external challenges. In this BANI world, I realize that soft skills like adaptability and problem-solving are crucial. It's clear that HR plays a big role in training and developing these skills in employees. Overall, it's a reminder that in today's world, being flexible and having good people skills are super important for success.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kanchana Nirupamala (E223799)April 9, 2024 at 8:26 PM

      Thank you Lathan! as you said we no longer live in VUCA world so soft skills' importance is felt more than ever.

      Delete
  6. Piyumi FernandoApril 10, 2024 at 9:32 AM

    Very interesting dr, keep it up

    ReplyDelete
  7. Shehani De Silva April 11, 2024 at 1:40 PM

    Your blog stands out as a beacon of credibility and authority in an age inundated with information.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kasun KarunaratneApril 12, 2024 at 4:15 PM

    The VUCA and BANI frameworks are used to describe the challenges and unknowns of a rapidly changing world. In contrast, BANI emphasizes resilience, empathy, flexibility, and critical thinking to adapt to and succeed in a complex and ever-changing environment. In the BANI world, hard skills are no longer sufficient, and a diverse set of soft skills, such as brittleness, crisis management, emotional intelligence, stress management, non-linearity, systems thinking, incomprehensibility, and continuous learning, is crucial for success. Human resources plays a crucial role in refining soft skills for a BANI age, providing training and development, culture building, recruitment, mentoring, coaching, and feedback. HR can provide courses that teach soft skills, create a work environment that focuses on constant improvement, teamwork, and flexibility, and help staff members hone their soft skills through mentoring and coaching programs. By promoting soft skills, human resources is actively constructing a corporate landscape that is resilient, emotionally intelligent, and adaptive to handle the nonlinear and incomprehensible issues of our day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kanchana Nirupamala (E223799)April 12, 2024 at 7:49 PM

      totally agreed! We live in BANI world so need soft skills to navigate through complexities.

      Delete
  9. R. A. P. K. JayaratneApril 13, 2024 at 5:55 AM

    In today's competitive business world, organizations need to be resilient to survive. But what does it take to build organizational resilience? Cultivating soft skills is key. Soft skills like communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving are essential for building a resilient workforce. They help employees manage change, navigate conflicts, and cope with stress. By investing in soft skills training, organizations can ensure their employees are equipped with the skills they need to bounce back from challenges and thrive in the face of adversity. So, let's remember the importance of cultivating soft skills for organizational resilience.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kanchana Nirupamala (E223799)April 14, 2024 at 10:30 AM

      agreed! resilient workforce is in need in today's BANI world and for that we need soft skills.

      Delete

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