Organisational Flexibility in an Age of Chaos: Mismanagement, Disorganisation, and Strategy(Routledge Focus on Business and Management)

This groundbreaking book challenges conventional management wisdom by arguing that mismanagement and disorganisation are not failures but endemic features of organisational life in turbulent times. Through rigorous theoretical analysis and rich case studies, including an in-depth examination of Netflix, the author develops a comprehensive framework of organisational flexibility based on five key dimensions that enable companies to thrive amid chaos and uncertainty. The book offers several distinctive features: A provocative reconceptualisation of organisational adaptation; an empirically grounded framework for building flexible organisations; practical diagnostic tools for assessing and enhancing organisational adaptability; and detailed case studies that illuminate how successful organisations navigate complexity. Each chapter combines theoretical depth with practical insights, making complex concepts accessible while maintaining scholarly rigor. Written primarily for academics and researchers in organisation studies, strategic management, and leadership theory, this book will particularly appeal to doctoral students and advanced postgraduate scholars. It serves as an essential resource for management faculty teaching graduate courses in organisational behaviour, strategic change, and leadership, while also offering valuable insights for researchers studying organisational adaptation in volatile environments.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: Swimming in Stagnant Waters: Management in the Age of Chaos 1. Welcome to the age of chaos 2. The Mechanisms of Disorganisation 3. The Anatomy of Mismanagement 4. A Downward Spiral of Failure: The Interplay of Context, Mismanagement, and Disorganisation 5. Defying Chaos: Good Leaders and Flexible Organisations 6. Adaptive Responses Under Contextual Chaos: Determinants of Organisational Flexibility to Avoid Mismanagement and Disorganisation 7. Netflix: A Case Study on the Dynamics of the Determinants of Organisational Flexibility in the Age of Chaos 8. Designing the Future: Leadership and Organisational Flexibility Beyond Chaos

About the Author :
Andrés Hatum is a Professor of Management & Organisation at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Argentina. He was visiting Professor at Nyenrode Business Universiteit, Netherlands.

Review :
“How to best make sense of the turbulence organizations face? Academic articles go deep and narrow – which is great but also leaves us wonder what the big picture looks like. So, if you have been craving for a comprehensive discussion that brings together different perspectives, this book is for you!” Christian Stadler, Professor of Strategic Management, Warwick Business School, Author of Open Strategy (MIT Press) "This is a timely and thought-provoking book that challenges conventional thinking about management and organisation in a world marked by uncertainty and disruption. Andrés Hatum brings academic rigour, personal insight, and a critical eye to issues that matter – from leadership failures to organisational resilience – making this a valuable read for scholars and practitioners alike.” Paula Jarzabkowski, FBA, FASSA, Professor of Strategic Management, UQ Business School, University of Queensland, Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), City, University of London “To speak of flexibility today is not to use a trendy metaphor, but to address a critical strategic and empirical necessity. In a world where control is limited, time is compressed, and the connection between actions and outcomes is increasingly unclear, flexibility is no longer optional—it is the organizational muscle that enables learning, innovation, and survival.” Nick van Dam PhD, Professor at IE Business School, External Senior Advisor and Faculty at McKinsey & Company “In this book, Hatum addresses key issues of our time - the chaotic world environment, mis-managed organisations and poor leadership. The topic is brought to life by lively examples and case studies, as Hatum argues for pathways towards greater flexibility and adaptation in organisations. Highly recommended!” Maureen Meadows, Professor of Strategic Management, Coventry University, Author of “Strategy: Theory, Practice, Implementation” (Oxford University Press) “Chaos is typically blamed on external shocks. But in this timely book, Andrés Hatum shows us that much of the chaos confronting today’s managers is a problem of their own making – and therefore something they can do something about.” Torkild Thanem, Professor of Management & Organization Studies, Stockholm University