Title: Taxonomy of VUCA in Indian start-ups: the future of entrepreneurship

Authors: Aseem Chauhan; Manoj Joshi; Ashok Kumar; Suhayl Abidi

Addresses: Amity University, E-27 Defence Colony, New Delhi – 110024, India ' Centre for VUCA Studies, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, P.O. Malhaur, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh-226028, India ' Centre for VUCA Studies, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, P.O. Malhaur, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh-226028, India ' Centre for VUCA Studies, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, P.O. Malhaur, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh-226028, India

Abstract: The purpose of the study is to explore and examine the taxonomy of VUCA in Indian start-ups in anticipation of what the future of entrepreneurship shall be! Researchers have examined fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, genomics, etc. that will shape the industry. In order to adapt, what kind of entrepreneurship and dynamic capabilities will be required, needs deeper thinking. The world is under turbulence and will be volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, termed as VUCA. We build on our previous studies on 'entrepreneur readiness' and 'Dotcoms' readiness'. Based on our thesis, we investigated around 50 Indian start-ups by deploying qualitative methods, like phenomenological studies supported by in-depth interviews, after examining and drawing knowledge from select start-ups, their VUCA readiness belonging to countries like Israel, China, USA and Singapore. Thus, successful economies with a well-defined entrepreneurial ecosystem, enable organisations to drive innovation, whether they are too fast or too furious but need to be a VUCA learner. The authors diagnose the combined response to VUCA in terms of 'entrepreneur-manager' and not 'manager-entrepreneur'. The study proposes a response model as a foresight required for entrepreneurial businesses for survival and growth in their VUCA journey.

Keywords: entrepreneur; start-up; entrepreneur-manager; entrepreneurial capabilities; entrepreneurial ventures; taxonomy; foresight; dynamic capabilities; future; VUCA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2020.106637

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2020 Vol.17 No.1, pp.76 - 98

Received: 04 Dec 2019
Accepted: 11 Dec 2019
Published online: 15 Apr 2020 *

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