Competence Development in a VUCA World: How to Make Employees Better Equipped for Handling VUCA

Abstract: Several researchers have approached the subject of VUCA and the challenges of operating in a VUCA world. However, previous research seldom addresses specifically how the work can be done or how these qualities and skills can be developed. The purpose of this study is to help professionals responsible for competence development in their work to enable employees to handle a VUCA world. Therefore, the study aims to research how organisations’ work with competence development is currently being done and create a deeper understanding of how they can work in the future to enable employees to handle a VUCA world. The study used a qualitative and deductive research approach. The researchers conducted twelve semi-structured interviews with professionals responsible for competence development in their organisation. The findings revealed several ways in which organisations work targeting individual competence factors that are important in a VUCA world. These were cross-training, job rotation, communicating future needs, learning from experience, conducting workshops and seminars, activities that support and enhance reflection, discussions, learning from others, meeting other employees, diversity and inclusion, reflection and feedback, and self-driven development. The findings indicate that a lack of time and priority, demands on employees and different learning activities and preferences are challenges with the work. The results revealed how organisations can work in the future by sharing knowledge in the organisation, providing fast, accessible, and easy learning material, self-driven competence development, changing the role of professionals responsible for competence development, and facilitating learning and strategic work with competence development. The researchers conclude that many of the activities target more than one individual competence factor of importance in a VUCA world and that these can be informal and formal activities. There needs to be psychological safety and a learning culture that supports employees in their learning. The study contributes to helping professionals working with competence development as they get an overview of how they can conduct their work and what important aspects need to be considered. The findings can give professionals working with competence development a deeper understanding of what is required of competence development initiatives in a VUCA environment.