Introduction
The issue of climatic variability demands that social actors understand the prevailing climate and the corresponding management strategies that would help reduce its negative impacts. The social actors, in this case, include business owners, individuals, and households (Berkhout, 2012). Organization leadership needs to take advantage of opportunities presented by the prevailing environmental condition to benefit the organization other than struggling to maintain the status quo. Strategic choices in relation to environmental determinism include identification of the changes in the environmental conditions and initiating an adaptation strategy. This paper deliberates on the role of leaders in strategic choices in a case of environmental determinism challenge.
When a leader becomes resistant to change by opposing adaptation to changes in environmental conditions, he or she risks displaying ineffective leadership qualities. Being resistant to adaptation may stall operations in an organization due to unfavorable environmental conditions (Berkhout, 2012). For instance, if a processing plant is located in the field where the raw materials are available and the weather changes making it impossible for processing to take place effectively, it is important that the leadership of the organization think of a way of solving the situation through adaptation. One of the adaptation strategies, in that case, would include the relocation of the processing plant to the company where it can operate under favorable conditions (Berkhout, 2012). The raw materials can then be transported to the company. If the management fails to adapt to the situation, then it would be termed as ineffective in handling the environmental change.
Making of wrong decisions also makes a leader ineffective in handling a change in environmental condition. Since environmental determinism predisposes the social actors to a definite development or strategic trajectories, it is important for leaders to be able to make the right decisions at the right time in terms of dealing with changes in the environmental conditions. In a situation where a company seeks to preserve its social interests, it is important that decisions made do not affect the social perspective of the company or business organization. The decisions made should ensure utility maximization and meeting of the company goals (Berkhout, 2012). For instance, ineffective leadership may either resort to the closing of the business and waiting for the favorable weather or climate to resume before activities resume. Such decisions can lead to permanent closure of the business, hence affecting the social status of the company. That is why adaptation strategies should be most considered.
Lastly, in the event of resorting to adaptation, it is important that an organization observe the most effective way to initiate the adaptation. Some factors to be considered in the company adaptation include resources, capabilities, and perceptions (Berkhout, 2012). For instance, leaders need to understand the best way to manage water in a situation of scarcity. It is also important that leaders identify the initiatives that can be achievable, taking into consideration the resources available in the organization. Over ambition may lead to failure and under ambition may also lead to underachievement.
Conclusion
In summary, environmental determinism is an important aspect to be looked at by any company that needs to succeed in any environmental condition. Leaders are expected to understand their role in strategic decisions related to environmental determinism. In some cases, the changes in the environment may pose risks that need to be averted, however, in other cases; the changes in environmental conditions can present opportunities that need to be exploited for gains. Adaptation may be the best option for handling the issues of changes in the environmental conditions that can affect the normal activities of a business organization or any other form of company. Ineffective leaders make wrong decisions, may be opposed to adaptation or adapt in a wrong way.
References
Abatecola, G. (2012). Organizational Adaptation: an update. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 20(3), 274-293.
Adger, W. N., Dessai, S., Goulden, M., Hulme, M., Lorenzoni, I., Nelson, D. R., & Wreford, A. (2009). Are there Social Limits to Adaptation to Climate Change? Climatic Change, 93(3-4), 335-354.
Argote, L. (2012). Organizational Learning: Creating, Retaining, and Transferring Knowledge. Springer Science & Business Media.
Armitage, D., Berkes, F., Dale, A., Kocho-Schellenberg, E., & Patton, E. (2011). Co-management and the co-production of knowledge: learning to adapt in Canada's Arctic. Global Environmental Change, 21(3), 995-1004.
Berkhout, F. (2012). Adaptation to Climate Change by Organizations. Wiley interdisciplinary reviews: climate change, 3(1), 91-106.
Berrang-Ford, L., Ford, J. D., & Paterson, J. (2011). Are we Adapting to Climate Change? Global environmental change, 21(1), 25-33.
Biesbroek, G. R., Swart, R. J., Carter, T. R., Cowan, C., Henrichs, T., Mela, H., & Rey, D. (2010). Europe Adapts to Climate Change: Comparing National Adaptation Strategies. Global environmental change, 20(3), 440-450.
Butzer, K. W. (2012). Collapse, Environment, and Society. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 201114845.
Crompton, T., & Kasser, T. (2009). Meeting Environmental Challenges: The Role of Human Identity (pp. 1-93). Godalming, UK: WWF-UK.
Glaas, E., Jonsson, A., Hjerpe, M., & Andersson-Skold, Y. (2010). Managing Climate Change Vulnerabilities: Formal Institutions and Knowledge use as Determinants of Adaptive Capacity at the Local Level in Sweden. Local Environment, 15(6), 525-539.
Jansen, J. J., Vera, D., & Crossan, M. (2009). Strategic Leadership for Exploration and Exploitation: The Moderating Role of Environmental Dynamism. The Leadership Quarterly, 20(1), 5-18.
Kates, R. W., Travis, W. R., & Wilbanks, T. J. (2012). Transformational Adaptation when Incremental Adaptations to Climate Change are Insufficient. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 201115521.
Leach, M., Stirling, A. C., & Scoones, I. (2010). Dynamic Sustainabilities: Technology, Environment, Social Justice. Routledge.
Lichtenthaler, U. (2009). Absorptive Capacity, Environmental Turbulence, and the Complementarity of Organizational Learning Processes.
Moser, S. C., & Ekstrom, J. A. (2010). A framework to Diagnose Barriers to Climate Change Adaptation. Proceedings of the national academy of sciences, 201007887.
O'Brien, K. (2012). Global Environmental Change II: From Adaptation to Deliberate Transformation. Progress in Human Geography, 36(5), 667-676.
Pelling, M. (2010). Adaptation to Climate Change: From Resilience to Transformation. Routledge.
Raisch, S., Birkinshaw, J., Probst, G., & Tushman, M. L. (2009). Organizational Ambidexterity: Balancing Exploitation and Exploration for Sustained Performance. Organization Science, 20(4), 685-695.
Smith, J. B., Schneider, S. H., Oppenheimer, M., Yohe, G. W., Hare, W., Mastrandrea, M. D., ... & Fussel, H. M. (2009). Assessing dangerous climate change through an update of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)"reasons for concern." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(11), 4133-4137.
Wilby, R. L., & Vaughan, K. (2011). Hallmarks of organizations that are adapting to climate change. Water and Environment Journal, 25(2), 271-281.
Cite this page
Paper Example on Ineffective Strategic Change Due to Environmental Determinism. (2022, Jul 04). Retrieved from https://proessays.net/essays/paper-example-on-ineffective-strategic-change-due-to-environmental-determinism
If you are the original author of this essay and no longer wish to have it published on the ProEssays website, please click below to request its removal:
- Introduction to Business - Essay Example
- Paper Example on Christian Virtue and Civic Responsibility
- Analysis of an Entrepreneur: Naomi Simson
- NewGen Case Study Paper Example
- Essay Example on Revest Asset Management: Capitalizing on Distressed Real Estate Success
- The Power of Leadership: Impacting Followers and Organizations - Essay Sample
- Case Study Sample on Ethical Role of Nurses