Adaptive Strategy in the Age of Disruption: Rethinking Strategic Management for 2025 and Beyond

Abstract

 This paper investigates the evolution of strategic management practices in response to the challenges posed by the VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) environment. It highlights the emergence of adaptive strategy as a critical organizational capability, replacing traditional linear planning models with dynamic, real-time decision-making approaches. The study adopts a conceptual and literature-based approach, synthesizing current academic research and practical insights from industry leaders. Key strategic transformation drivers such as digitalization, sustainability (ESG), ecosystem competition, and artificial intelligence (AI) are examined to understand their impact on strategic thinking and organizational design. The analysis reveals that organizations operating successfully in high-VUCA environments rely on adaptive, agile, and scenario-based strategic models. The integration of AI and data-driven tools enhances foresight and responsiveness, while ESG imperatives and stakeholder engagement redefine value creation. A future-ready strategic management framework is proposed, grounded in agility, resilience, stakeholder-centricity, and continuous learning. This paper contributes to the strategic management literature by reframing strategy as a living, responsive process rather than a fixed roadmap. It highlights the intersection of technological advancement and organizational design in building strategic agility. The framework offers practical guidance for executives and policymakers navigating post-pandemic complexity and digital disruption. Organizations should institutionalize adaptive capabilities, invest in AI-driven foresight, and embed sustainability and resilience into core strategic planning. Leaders must foster cross-functional agility, embrace uncertainty, and reorient strategic processes around stakeholder ecosystems.