VOIS - Area 2 - Module 6

  1. MODULE TITLE

Module 6: Adaptability and flexibility
  1. AUTHORS

CWEP
  1. SHORT DESCRIPTION

Adaptability and flexibility are considered as examples of soft skills supporting Open Innovation. Employees who deal with the innovation process in the company should have this competency developed at a high level. The complexity and dynamic of the working environment put every employee in a situation that requires these qualities to cope with working conditions . For managers adaptability and flexibility are the must-have skills. To understand the meaning of adaptability and flexibility for managers who deal with Open Innovation you need to be aware of the conditions that influence competencies requirements. Adaptability and flexibility are necessary soft skills for dealing with new or different situations, ideas, or problems in the workplace. These competencies are important to effectively deal with innovation.
  1. LEARNING OBJECTIVES

    Upon completing this module, you should be able to:

  • Explain the link between the adaptability and flexibility of their employees and themselves and company innovativeness
  • Self-evaluate their own adaptability and flexibility
  • Describe the role of adaptability and flexibility in a competency model for Open Innovation
  • Describe the resource-based model of adaptability
  • Prepare and apply their strategy for developing adaptability and flexibility skills
  1. Training Content
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Understanding the meaning of adaptability and flexibility skills

Source: https://pl.freepik.com/

Being adaptable is a highly valued skill in nearly every workplace. With increasing business complexity, employers are becoming more aware of the importance their employees’ flexibility and adaptability holds. While companies may not be able to predict what their workplace will look like in the future, assessing flexibility can show them how well employees may deal with potential challenges. Adapting to change can help companies survive and thrive.

Adaptability Flexibility
is an ability or willingness to change in order to suit different conditions is the ability to change or be changed easily according to the situation
you are willing to change according to new trends or ideas you have the ability to change easily that can also make you more adaptable

Table 1. Adaptability and flexibility meaning

Both adaptability and flexibility mean the ability to change. Adaptability is a longer-term skill that is connected to a bigger scale, or the environment of the market or workplace, etc., while flexibility is something that happens at a particular time and place, and that you need to react quickly, at the moment (or with a short time of preparation).

Adaptability and flexibility are terms that can be used to describe someone’s skills. These are psychophysical features and social skills that determine how you behave, get along with other people, or organize your work. These are examples of soft competencies that are more difficult to measure and assess, but they can be transferable between jobs which means you can continually improve and find it relevant across occupations. Flexibility and adaptability enable you to cope with uncertainties and to adjust to changing job requirements, including new technology, innovations, alterations, work culture, projects, or job roles. It means that it is a must-have skill that helps you neutralize the consequences of environmental contingencies and organizational requirements. Being flexible is also vital when you encounter challenges beyond your experience and competency, as it makes it easier to identify and implement creative solutions.

Are adaptability and flexibility important for your career development?

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