STRATEGIC NAVIGATION
IN A DISRUPTED WORLD
Disruption As A Embedded World View
The events of 2025 have confirmed the perception that we live in a world overwhelmed by disruption. The structures that once gave a relative certainty to our future have collapsed. The only thing that is certain is uncertainty. If you are running a business or community organisation you need to be able to navigate this landscape to continue to deliver and flourish. On this page we’ve presented a model and capacity tracking mechanism which may assist to guide your strategic and business continuity planning.
The best way to chart a future so we can live in a sustainable way is to cherish those values that we hold dear including diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability, egalitarianism, tolerance and good governance.
Assess Major Risks
Six Key Areas of Focus :
They might seem self evident but it’s surprising what gets overlooked in a disrupted environment. Let’s have a brief look at what’s important in navigating the future:
Assess Financial Position: Whatever you do it must it be financially viable in the short, medium and long term. Sometimes cashflow projections can be difficult and various scenarios need to be considered.
Elevate Stakeholder Focus: Your organisation is embedded in a network of stakeholders: owners, employees, suppliers, regulators, communities. Balancing different views can be a challenge.
Incorporate ESG Principles: Effective governance is essential for optimal organisation performance. The board provides high level expertise, informed decision making and oversights regulatory compliance.
Consider Compliance Obligations: ASIC has introduced a requirement for all organisations with a $500m+ turnover to report annually on a range of environmental measures from 1.1.2025. The compliance load on directors and organisations is substantial. It needs to be factored into strategic planning.
Deploy AI Capability: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to enhance our businesses in ways that most of us can’t even image. But let’s not forget who invented it and who it’s meant to serve.
People Capability: Most of us only use a small percentage of our potential. Organisations and communities need to invest in their people. They are the ones who are going to build a more sustainable world.
Using a Strategic Navigation Scoreboard enables you to plan for various outcomes in a disrupted environment. You need to make sure that you’ve got the best strategy and risk teams in place. Looking five years out might not be possible in your industry. Every time a disrupter hits you need to re-model.
This is where the board can add real value. If your NEDs have the right mix of skills they can guide the CEO and leadership team through the murky waters of disruption.
Strategic Thinking in an Uncertain World
“It sometimes seems that Australia is constantly playing catch-up when it comes to major policy issues. A key social problem needs to get to crisis point before we act. The current housing and cost of living crises are examples not to mention waiting times at public hospitals. In many cases our think tanks and research bodies have been telling governments well in advance that a situation has the potential to emerge. Yet the reality of oppositional politics makes prevention and pro-active intervention very difficult to achieve.”
Geoff Nunn, Governance Update, March 2025