Leading in a VUCA World

The current COVID-19 virus has put the entire world in lockdown, creating one of the worst times of a VUCA world. The changes that are happening because of the pandemic are large scale and occur suddenly. There is a shortage of leadership everywhere. Leaders are unprepared to lead effectively. In this fast-changing and disruptive environment, command and control structures fail. Leaders are expected to act on incomplete or insufficient information. They do not know where to start to drive change as increased complexity makes it difficult. Leaders lack time to reflect and end up acting too quickly or acting too late as they get stuck in analysis paralysis. They are far removed from the source and are forced to act with a limited understanding of events and their meanings. The role and type of leadership are being tested as we are trying to come out of this crisis. Leaders cannot predict the future but need to make sense of it in order to thrive. This paper would analyse challenges that are being faced by leaders in this critical period and how these can be converted into opportunities like a vaccine for the virus.

A Study on Factors Influencing Investment Decisions of Retail Investors in VUCA World

In this paper, we seek to identify the factors influencing the investment decision of individual investors. Further, in the existing pandemic situation, which will cover the scope of the VUCA environment, it is important to understand the factors influencing investor’s investment decision. For this purpose, we used exploratory factor analysis to group the factors affecting an investor’s investment decision. Based on the findings, we identified four factors influencing investment preferences and the reliability of these factors are supported by strong statistical measures

Occupation-Related Stress among University Faculty Staff in Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examined occupational-related stress among university faculty staff and its implications on goal attainment of universities in Kwara State, Nigeria. The research design was a descriptive research of a cross-sectional survey. Multi-stage sampling technique was used for the selection of 458 faculty staff. Data were collected with the use of 57-item questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed with relevant statistics like percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings revealed that the level of stress among faculty staff was high (3.25), while stress level differs based on gender (p<.05), age (p<.01), marital status (p<.01), work experience (p<.05) and ownership of workplace (p<.05). The prominent risk associated with occupational-related stress were the organizational-related (cluster mean 3.26) and role-related (CM 3.26) factors. Finding further indicated that the social support (CM 3.00) and individual-focused (CM 2.91) coping strategies were moderately adopted for managing occupational-related stress among university faculty, while the organizational support coping strategy was utilized to a low extent (CM 2.47). The findings implicate the attainment of university goals because of the negative effect high-stress level will have on the physiological and behavioural state of faculty staff adding to destructive work and health anomalies.

From Risk Aversion to Risk Loving

Risk aversion is one of the major impediments to entrepreneurship, and the survival and growth of startups in the developing world. Female entrepreneurs portray even a higher risk averse attitude regarding starting new businesses or introducing new business lines in their existing businesses. The intention of this study is to explore strategies that can be employed to reduce risk aversion among female entrepreneurs. A qualitative research methodology was utilized to carry out the research, with the interview technique being used as the main data collection tool. Snowballing and convenience sampling techniques were utilized to select 8 organizations and 21 female entrepreneurs who participated in the study. The study found out that entrepreneurial literacy significantly reduces risk aversion among female entrepreneurs by providing them with quality education and training on financial and income generation skills and competencies. Risk aversion can also be reduced among female entrepreneurs by assigning them to reputable business mentors to inspire them and also assist them to break cultural and societal barriers. The ‘do not do it alone’ principle and motivation through the creation of entrepreneurship forums and stakeholder interventions and schemes that support female entrepreneurship also help to minimize risk aversion.

Uncertainty in Consumer Behaviour with Reference to Factors Influencing Consumer Purchase Decision of Smartphones in the City of Bengaluru

This article attempts to investigate and understand the factors that influence the purchase decision towards smartphones in Bangalore. Bangalore is a cosmopolitan and multilingual city with a mixed culture. It is also a famous city in India with the IT sector and educational institutions, which has grown in the recent past. The shopping pattern in Bangalore is found to be very interesting when compared to other south Indian cities because the spending pattern of people in Bangaloreprovokes the consumers to purchase. A survey was conducted to determine the factors influencing smartphone purchase. A simple random sampling technique has been used with a sample size of 190. Factor analysis was run to reduce the dimensions and find the aptest variables influencing the consumer purchase decision. From the analysis, the researchers have derived five iterations which are price and in-built features(Component 1), camera, battery backup and sound quality(Component 2), marketing strategy and social groups(Component 3), brand image and origin of the company (Component 4), EMI and replacement option(Component 5). This study will help the marketers in understanding the expectation of the consumer’s from the product and figure out the areas of improvement in smartphone features and other factors influencing the purchase so that they can tailor make the product as per customer requirement and understand the most crucial factor contributing to the sale. Uncertainty is to be understood by the marketers, as drastic changes in needs, wants, desire, and expectations are needed.

The Influence of Customer Care Service Management on the Performance of the Shops and Clothes Businesses in Bukoba Municipality in Tanzania

This paper assessed the effects of customer care service management on business performance for the shop and clothes business owners in Bukoba municipality, Tanzania. Specifically, the paper assessed the effects of selling quality products, complaints management and positive impression on business performance. The study targeted a total population of 110 shop sellers and 850 customers. The systematic random sampling technique and sampling formula were used to select a sample size of 70 participants. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings indicate that on average, shop sellers were selling products of the desired quality and this contributed to business performance. The findings further indicated that the positive impression was managed as required. However, the findings indicate that the impaired products replacement service was missing, the management for complaints was not sufficient, and shop sellers were busy and attended calls while serving customers. This, therefore, reduced business performance. This paper recommends that the business owners should accept replacing the impaired products, strive to make sure that all complaints are handled appropriately and timely and should refrain from being busy and attending calls when serving customers.

Business Research in the VUCA World

The purpose of this issue is to invite articles on the VUCA theme (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity), relevant to various crises. For example, the COVID-19 health crisis across the globe has affected many occupations leaving a double folded impact. VUCA is an opportunity for a few business organizations to realize their worthiness and an opportunity to revive their strategies to sustain themselves. VUCA is also an opportunity for business leaders to examine their abilities and leadership skills. Unpredictable environments give rise to more opportunities. Leadership skills can be mastered in the VUCA environment, as managers get ready to restructure and rethink the way of conducting business. This issue has accepted six articles from various fields of studies, which include Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, and Services Marketing. All the articles underwent a sequence of the review process and then were finalized for publication. This issue is rich in new ideas and gives opportunities for readers to access new information. All the articles have also contributed to a larger social impact, contributing to various stakeholders.

HR 20/20: Developing future-ready HR Capabilities

The rapid evolution of technology is having a significantimpact on work, workplaces and the HR function. Thefunction is under demand to address a range of questionsthat includes adding strategic value, greater use oftechnology in HR processes, and making the workforcemore agile. In the first part, the paper provides aconceptual overview of the complex forces of changeimpacting workplaces, work and HR. Next, currentliterature and industry reports have been reviewed tooffer insights on how companies could choose differentapproaches to respond to these complex forces of change -Pathfinding HR, Searching HR, and Disconnected HR.Finally, the paper makes recommendations on the fourHR capabilities - workforce shaping, passing the culturetest, employee experience by design and workforceinsights - companies need to develop to be future-ready.

Organizational Citizenship Behaviours - Antecedents, Outcomes & Paradoxes: A Literature Review

Organizational Citizenship Behaviours(OCBs) have asignificant impact on how employees go over and beyondat the workplace and form a competitive edge for theirfirms. Grounded in industrial-organizational psychology,OCBs provide insights for leaders and managers to alignand engage staff to improve organizational effectiveness.While a lot of studies have focused on the benefits ofcitizenship behaviours, there are paradoxes which needmore attention. This paper reviews the literature onOCBs, the antecedents, outcomes and paradoxes whenexcessive OCBs can come in the way of organizationalsuccess.

Employee Retention – Challenges and Realities Faced by Corporates for New Recruits as well as Existing Employees

Identifying and nurturing employee’s talents andproviding them the right opportunity to grow in theorganization according to their skills, competencies, andwants will not only reduce attrition of the existingemployees but also provide a congenial atmosphere forthe new recruits to adapt to the changed scenario andsettle-down faster.It will helps them in understandingand addressing the organization’s goal and linking thesame to individual achievements. The study reveals howidentifying employee needs and providing them the rightplace in the organization to grow reduces the existingemployees’ attrition and provide the new recruits a betteracceptance and support in the organization.