Companies that want to stake out a defensible market position in this uncertain and volatile marketplace are finding themselves at a loss. They must stay nimble in this environment; however, that often means sacrificing exactly what allows companies to compete for market dominance — the scale and complexity of their organizations. Deloitte Research has developed Strategic Flexibility — an approach that allows organizations to prepare effectively for a future they cannot predict. The framework of Strategic Flexibility requires that companies:

• Anticipate multiple scenarios;
• Formulate strategies for each;
• Acquire the capabilities to execute those strategies;
• Execute the "most likely" strategy;
• Be prepared to rapidly adopt one of the alternatives if market forces dictate.

The next few pages take you through the concept of Strategic Flexibility in more detail, from recognizing the need for a new approach to dealing with uncertainty to successfully implementing this powerful framework:

Strategic Flexibility: The Paradox
Strategic Flexibility: The Framework
Strategic Flexibility: Deloitte Research Reports