Mastering Turbulence—The Essential Capabilities of Agile and Resilient Individuals, Teams, and Organizations

The essential capabilities organizations need to master turbulent change
Rapid and disruptive change threatens the adaptive capacity of organizations, along with the individuals and teams leading them. Based upon over a decade of global research and consulting, Joseph E. McCann and John W. Selsky outline five capabilities highly agile and resilient systems must possess. They must be: Purposeful, Aware, Action-Oriented, Resourceful, and Networked. In addition the authors illustrate how these capabilities can be assessed across four levels—individuals, teams, organizations, and their business ecosystems. The goal is to develop these capabilities in tandem so that the individual, team, organization and ecosystem have High AR—not just greater agility or resiliency, but both high agility and high resiliency.

* The authors outline balanced development strategies for creating High AR that can be used to master turbulent environments for competitive advantage and sustained performance
* Includes cutting-edge concepts and examples that take readers from the latest advances in neuro-science and executive wellness to global supply chains and innovation strategy
* Contains illustrative examples and vignettes from leading organizations including Mayo Clinic, Microsoft, Starbucks, Southwest Airlines, TECO Energy, Shell Oil, Walmart, and others

Most important, McCann, and Selsky deliver a unique and practical perspective that helps organization leaders make sense of the dynamic world in which they operate.

Joseph McCann is an internationally acknowledged scholar, consultant, author, and speaker. He is a former dean and professor of management at three business schools, and serves as executive editor of HR People & Strategy.
John W. Selsky is an associate professor of management at the University of South Florida, Lakeland, Florida. He is a well-published author in the areas of collaborative strategy in turbulent environments and cross-sector partnerships.
Both Drs. McCann and Selsky are graduates of The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

List of Figures, Tables, and Exhibits xi
Foreword xiii
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xxiii
1 Turbulence Crossing the Channel 1
2 The Origins and Consequences of Turbulence 17
3 Not A, Not R—It’s AR 35
4 Being Well and Acting with Purpose 55
5 Building and Sustaining Awareness 85
6 Designing for Action 107
7 Being Resourceful 129
8 Engaged Networking 155
9 Bringing It All Together 175
Appendix: Assessing Agility and Resiliency 197
References 207
Name Index 221
Subject Index 225