Leadership for Technology Management in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) World: A Review of the Literature and a Research Agenda

The organizational environment of the 21st Century is becoming increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA). Leadership practices in technology management are evolving accordingly. A review of the literature on leadership concludes that success in a VUCA world requires approaches that focus on problem solving, relationships, empathy, and motivation (PREM), as well as integrating three traditional perspectives: authentic leadership, servant leadership, and adaptive leadership. Unfortunately, the literature on integrated approaches to leadership in technology management is very sparse. This paper consequently proposes a research agenda from which best practices for leadership in technology management in a VUCA world will hopefully emerge.