Flexibility, strategic requirement of foreign policy in the complex international system

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor of International Relations, Ardakan University

Abstract
The complexity of the international system has fundamentally changed the strategic principles of foreign policy of actors. One of the principles of complex systems is the degrees of freedom of system elements. This principle has led to the emergence of the challenge between stability and change as one of the fundamental paradoxes of the system and international realities. Stability draws actors towards strategies based on control, and change draws actors towards strategies based on self-organization. Classical management, focusing on controlling problems, tried to eliminate, change or correct the cause of phenomena and control problems and maintain the sustainability of the system. Therefore, in classical systems, strategies were drawn with degrees of control over phenomena. The complexity of the international system has made it very difficult and impossible to control phenomena due to the lack of recognition of the cause of phenomena, the nonlinearity of problems, the impossibility of separating problems, the interference of systemic processes and the emergence of phenomena from seemingly unrelated problems. The question is: What is the strategic requirement of actors in order to achieve goals and interests and maintain stability and durability in the conditions of emerging realities in the complex international system? In response to the research question, the hypothesis is proposed that complex management, focusing on self-organization, imposes the principle of strategic flexibility on the strategies of actors in the complex international system. The findings of the research with a descriptive-analytical approach and qualitative research method indicate that strategic flexibility plays a vital role in the continuous development, recombination and adaptive use of existing resources. This allows the system to scan the environment and respond to changes and threats in a timely manner by identifying opportunities and strategic innovation.

Keywords


1. Andelman, S. J., Bowles, C. M., Willig, M. R., & Waide, R. B. ( 2004). Understanding environmental
complexity through a distributed knowledge network. BioScience, 54(3),
240-246.
2. Andrews, J. H. ( 1992). Fungal life-history strategies. The Fungal Community: its organization
and role in the ecosystem, 2, 119-145.
3. Arrive, J. T., & Feng, M. ( 2018). The complexity of the environment, management control
and firm performance. Business Strategy and the Environment, 27(8), 1347-1354.
4. Awais, M., Ali, A., Khattak, M. S., Arfeen, M. I., Chaudhary, M. A. I., & Syed, A. ( 2023).
Strategic flexibility and organizational performance: Mediating role of innovation.
SAGE Open, 13(2), 21582440231181432.
5. Bedau, M. A., McCaskill, J. S., Packard, N. H., & Rasmussen, S. ( Eds.). ( 2000). Artificial
Life VII: Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Artificial Life. MIT
Press.
6. Boulton, J. G., Allen, P. M., & Bowman, C. ( 2015). Embracing complexity: Strategic perspectives
for an age of turbulence. OUP Oxford.
7. Brooks, H. ( 1986). The typology of surprises in technology, institutions and development.
Sustainable development of the biosphere, 340.
8. Brozovic, D. ( 2018). Strategic flexibility: A review of the literature. International Journal
of Management Reviews, 20(1), 3-31.
9. Cannon, A. R., & John, C. H. S. ( 2007). Measuring environmental complexity: a theoretical
and empirical assessment. Organizational Research Methods, 10(2), 296-321.
10. Casti, J. L. ( 1994). Simple and complex models in science. Kornwachs/Jacoby [20],
209-228.
11. Chanphati, J., & Thosuwanchot, N. ( 2023). Strategic flexibility: a systematic review
and future research directions. Journal of Strategy and Management, 16(3), 470-491.
12. Chen, X., Wan, N., & Wang, X. (2017). Flexibility and coordination in a supply chain with
bidirectional option contracts and service requirement. International Journal of Production
Economics, 193, 183-192.
13. Christensen, C. M., & Overdorf, M. ( 2000). Meeting the challenge of disruptive
change. Harvard business review, 78(2), 66-77.
14. Collier, Z. A., Lambert, J. H., & Linkov, I. ( 2018). Resilience, sustainability, and complexity
in social, environmental, and technical systems. Environment Systems and
Decisions, 38, 1-2.
15. de Miranda Filho, A. N., da Costa, J. M., & Heineck, L. F. ( 2012). Revisiting the concept
of flexibility. In 20th Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction
IGLC20.
16. DOVAL, E. ( 2019). RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS IN PROJECTS. Review of general
management, 29(2).
17. Dryzek, J. S. ( 1987). Discursive designs: critical theory and political institutions.
American Journal of Political Science, 656-679.
18. Eppel, E. A., & Rhodes, M. L. ( 2018). Complexity theory and public management: a ‘becoming’field.
Public Management Review, 20(7), 949-959.
19. Fletcher S. and Olwyler K. ( 1997) Paradoxical Thinking, Berret-Koehler Publishers:
San-Francisco.
20. Flood, R. L., & Carson, E. R. ( 2013). Dealing with complexity: an introduction to the
theory and application of systems science. Springer Science & Business Media.
21. Frej, W., & Ramalingam, B. ( 2011). Foreign policy and complex adaptive systems: Exploring
new paradigms for analysis and action. Santa Fe Institute (SFI) Working Paper, 11-06.
22. Guerin, D. (1970). Anarchism: From theory to practice ( Vol. 175). NYU Press.
23. Guidetti, G., & Pedrini, G. ( 2015). Systemic flexibility and human capital development:
the relationship between non-standard employment and workplace training.
24. Gulati, R., & Puranam, P. ( 2009). Renewal through reorganization: The value of inconsistencies
between formal and informal organization. Organization science, 20(2),
422-440.
25. Haarhaus, T., & Liening, A. (2020). Building dynamic capabilities to cope with environmental
uncertainty: The role of strategic foresight. Technological Forecasting and
Social Change, 155, 120033.
26. Hayes R.H. and Pisano G.P. (1994) Beyond World Class: The New Manufacturing Strategy,
Harvard Business Review, January- February, 77-86.
27. Heimeriks, K. H., & Duysters, G. ( 2007). Alliance capability as a mediator between experience
and alliance performance: An empirical investigation into the alliance capability
development process. Journal of management studies, 44(1), 25-49.
28. Johansson, A. C. ( 2019). Managing a systemic change on an operational level in a public
organization: A case study of the Swedish Armed Forces (Master's thesis).
29. Kaplan, M. J. ( 2018). Complexity Demands New Approaches to Work. Standford Social
Inovation Review.
30. Kirschke, S., & Newig, J. ( 2017). Addressing complexity in environmental management
and governance. Sustainability, 9(6), 983.
31. Kolmogorov, A. N., & Uspenskii, V. A. ( 1988). Algorithms and randomness. Theory of
Probability & Its Applications, 32(3), 389-412.
32. Kortmann, S., Gelhard, C., Zimmermann, C., & Piller, F. T. ( 2014). Linking strategic
flexibility and operational efficiency: The mediating role of ambidextrous operational
capabilities. Journal of Operations Management, 32(7-8), 475-490.
33. Kotabe, M., Dunlap-Hinkler, D., Parente, R., & Mishra, H. A. ( 2007). Determinants of
cross-national knowledge transfer and its effect on firm innovation. Journal of international
business studies, 38, 259-282.
34. Kotter, J. P. ( 1995). Why transformation efforts fail. Harvard business review, 73(2),
59-67.
35. Lin, H., Qu, T., Li, L., & Tian, Y. ( 2020). The paradox of stability and change: a case
study. Chinese Management Studies, 14(1), 185-213.
36. Liu, H., Ma, L., & Huang, P. ( 2015). When organizational complexity helps corporation
improve its performance. Journal of Management Development, 34(3), 340-351.
37. Maldonado, C. E., & Gómez-Cruz, N. A. ( 2014). Synchronicity among biological and
computational levels of an organism: quantum biology and complexity. Procedia
Computer Science, 36, 177-184.
38. Maldonado, C. E., & Mezza-Garcia, N. (2016). Anarchy and complexity. E: CO, 18(1), 52-73.
39. Markides, C. C. (1999). A dynamic view of strategy. MIT Sloan Management Review.
40. Martill, B., & Sus, M. ( 2024). Winds of change? Neoclassical realism, foreign policy
change, and European responses to the Russia-Ukraine War. The British Journal of
Politics and International Relations, 13691481241280170.
41. Martins, C. E. ( 2023). Chaos and the new temporality of the contemporary world-system.
Cadernos Metrópole, 26, 355-376.
42. Merkhofer, M. W. ( 1975). The value of information given decision flexibility. Stanford
University.
43. Midgley, G., & Lindhult, E. ( 2021). A systems perspective on systemic innovation. Systems
research and behavioral science, 38(5), 635-670.
44. Miller D. ( 1990) The Icarus Paradox: How Excellent Organizations Can Bring About
Their Own Downfall, Harper Business: New York.
45. Mitchell, S. D. ( 2003). Biological complexity and integrative pluralism. Cambridge
University Press.
46. Nadkarni, S., & Narayanan, V. K. ( 2007). Strategic schemas, strategic flexibility, and
firm performance: The moderating role of industry clockspeed. Strategic management
journal, 28(3), 243-270.
47. Pascal, R. T. ( 1990). Managing on the edge: how successful companies use conflict to
stay ahead. Viking Penguin, London.
48. Plambeck, N., & Weber, K. ( 2009). CEO ambivalence and responses to strategic issues.
Organization science, 20(6), 993-1010.
49. Primawanti, H., Hidayat, T., & Sumadinata, W. S. ( 2023). Global Creative Economy Development:
Study of West Java's Efforts through Para diplomacy Instruments. Kurdish
Studies, 11(2), 4494-4509.
50. Progonatı, E. ( 2023). Chaos theory and political sciences. Diplomasi Araştırmaları
Dergisi, 5(1), 13-23.
51. Rajagopalan, N., & Rasheed, A. M. ( 1995). Incremental models of policy formulation
and non‐incremental changes: Critical review and synthesis 1. British Journal of
Management, 6(4), 289-302.
52. Sadler, B. ( 1996). Environmental Assessment in a Changing World. Evaluating practice
to improve performance-final report.
53. Sammut-Bonnici, T., & McGee, J. (2014). Strategic renewal.
54. Sanchez, R. ( 1995). Strategic flexibility in product competition. Strategic management
journal, 16(S1), 135-159.
55. Sanchez, R., & Mahoney, J. T. ( 1996). Modularity, flexibility, and knowledge management
in product and organization design. Strategic management journal, 17(S2), 63-76.
56. Shimizu, K., & Hitt, M. A. ( 2004). Strategic flexibility: Organizational preparedness to
reverse ineffective strategic decisions. Academy of Management Perspectives, 18(4),
44-59. Brozovic, D. ( 2018). Strategic flexibility: A review of the literature. International
Journal of Management Reviews, 20(1), 3-31.
57. Smit, B., & Wandel, J. ( 2006). Adaptation, adaptive capacity and vulnerability. Global
environmental change, 16(3), 282-292.
58. Stacey, R. D. ( 2007). Strategic management and organisational dynamics: The challenge
of complexity to ways of thinking about organisations. Pearson education.
59. Sushil ( 2000) Systemic Flexibility, Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management,
1(1): 77-80.
60. Sushil ( 2008) The Concept of a Flexible Enterprise, , Proc. of Eighth Global Conference
on Flexible Systems Management, GLOGIFT 08, Stevens Institute of Technology,
Hoboken, NJ, June 14-16, 2008, pp 18-35.
61. Sushil ( 2013) The Concept of a Flexible Enterprise, in Sushil and Stohr E.A. ( Eds.)
(2013) The Flexible Enterprise, Springer: New Delhi.
62. Sushil, A. ( 2005). A flexible strategy framework for managing continuity and change.
International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness, 1(1), 22-32.
63. Sushil. (2001). Demythifying flexibility. Management Decision, 39(10), 860-865.
64. Sushil. ( 2013). Managing flexibility: Developing a framework of flexibility maturity
model. Proceedings of GLOGIFT 13 December 13-15, 2013 Department of Management
Studies, IIT Delhi pp. 1-15.
65. 65- Tang, S. ( 2004). A systemic theory of the security environment. Journal of Strategic
Studies, 27(1), 1-34.
66. Tushman, M. L., & Anderson, P. ( 1997). Managing strategic innovation and change,
Oxford University Press: New York.
67. Upton, D. M. ( 1994). The management of manufacturing flexibility. California management
review, 36(2), 72-89.
68. van Dijke, A., & Scheele, R. (2013). A Structured Approach to Reducing SAP Complexity.
69. Vera, D., & Crossan, M. ( 2004). Strategic leadership and organizational learning.
Academy of management review, 29(2), 222-240.
70. Vogler, A. (2024). On (in-) secure grounds: how military forces interact with global environmental
change. Journal of Global Security Studies, 9(1), ogad026.
71. Volberda, H. W. ( 1997). Building flexible organizations for fast-moving markets. Long
range planning, 30(2), 169-148.
72. Warner, K. S., & Wäger, M. ( 2019). Building dynamic capabilities for digital transformation:
An ongoing process of strategic renewal. Long range planning, 52(3), 326-349.
73. Williamson, P. J. ( 1999). Strategy as options on the future. MIT Sloan Management Review,
40(3), 117.
74. Worren, N., Moore, K., & Cardona, P. ( 2002). Modularity, strategic flexibility, and firm
performance: a study of the home appliance industry. Strategic management journal,
23(12), 1123-1140.
75. Yeldos, T. ( 2023, October). Strategic Diplomacy and Global Stability: Convergence
of Interests on the International Stage. In Publisher. agency: Proceedings of the 4th
International Scientific Conference « Reviews of Modern Science»( October 19-20,
2023). Zürich, Switzerland, 2023. 256p (p. 223). Universität Luzern.
76. Zhang, W. B. ( 2023). Chaos, complexity, and nonlinear economic theory. Progonatı,
E. ( 2023). Chaos theory and political sciences. Diplomasi Araştırmaları Dergisi, 5(1),
13-23.
77. Zhou, K. Z., & Wu, F. ( 2010). Technological capability, strategic flexibility, and product
innovation. Strategic management journal, 31(5), 547-561.
Send comment about this article
Enter Name.
Enter a valid email address.
Enter a vaid affiliation.
Enter comments (At leaset 10 words)
CAPTCHA Image
Enter Security Code Correctly.

  • Receive Date 10 March 2025
  • Revise Date 17 June 2025
  • Accept Date 11 March 2026