Eternal Journey of Flexibility, The

The nature is the progenitor of flexibility

Which entity, living or nonliving, is the progenitor of the conceptual, procedural, and the evolutionary trajectory of flexibility? The answer may be: the nature.

Change and flexibility have a symbiotic existence

A perspective of this millions-of-years long metamorphosis of the newly born, inhospitable and unfriendly Earth to its present state of existence, is a classical example of perpetual change. And change and flexibility have a symbiotic existence, much akin to the ones exhibited in several other systems, both natural and man-made.

Genesis of the concept is credited to the domain of economics circa 1930s

Although it is generally believed by the practitioners of flexibility that the genesis of the concept is credited to the domain of economics circa 1930s, this is similar to 'discovering' the atom which always existed in the nature!

The onus of achieving higher levels of excellence through the tool of flexible thinking finally lies on us

The excelsior status of to-day's human race vis-à-vis that of other living things is another sterling statement of an excruciatingly long but incredibly effective paradigm shift displaying the providential order of incessant change and flexibility.

And, therefore, the onus of achieving higher and still higher levels of excellence through the tool of flexible thinking finally lies on us i.e., we, the human beings.

The concept of flexibility, in its bare essence, is now well comprehended

Although flexibility is all pervasive in the very existentialism of societies, the nations, and the corporate world, in practice, it hides itself more than it reveals, and that is why it embraces a plethora of diverse definitions; although the concept, in its bare essence, is now well comprehended.

Managing the now ubiquitous dilemmas, perplexities, incertitudities, and stochasticities, may be the current need.

The next question may be: has the ever-heightening global competition triggered the shift towards flexibility or is it the other way round? The answer may be: both, as they sustain mutually. And this has further resulted in a state of enhanced uncertainty. It is now generally realised, especially in the business world, that we are heading towards more and more uncertain times and, therefore, managing the now ubiquitous dilemmas, perplexities, incertitudities, and stochasticities, may be the current need.

Therefore, without incorporating a flexibility-enabled pragmatic approach, both attitudinal and behavioural, in the demeanour of the people entrusted with managing the to-day's business related systems, it will increasingly become a titanic task to sustain and survive.

Managing flexibility of the flexibility itself may well become the exigency of the future business systems

And, finally, the next logical query may be: if flexibility and competitiveness operate on a quid-pro-quo basis, where will it lead us to? I leave it to the researchers to hunt for the answer but conclude with a note that managing flexibility of the flexibility itself may well become the exigency of the future business systems. And this concept is reflected in one of the papers appearing in this issue of giftjourn@l, now in your hands.

O. P. Sharma

Deputy Editor

Copyright Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management (GIFT) Apr-Sep 2002
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