The Innovation Show Navigating the Age of Chaos Part 2 with Bob Johansen and Jamais Cascio
Nov 27, 2025
Bob Johansen, a renowned futurist and strategic advisor, and Jamais Cascio, a forward-thinking futures researcher, explore the transition from VUCA to BANI dynamics. They discuss the importance of flexive command in leadership and the need for organizational bendability amidst chaos. The duo emphasizes future-back thinking, using historical patterns for clarity, and highlights strategies for personal resilience, including mindfulness and empathic leadership. They also dive into AI ethics, proposing flexible ethical boundaries, and share insights on nonlinearity in decision-making.
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Episode notes
Clarity Over Command
- In volatile times, clarity of vision beats frantic control and yields disproportionate advantage.
- Commanders' intent and flexive command set clear direction while allowing flexible execution.
Assume Brittleness
- Brittle systems look strong until they fail catastrophically, so assume brittleness when uncertain.
- Adopt a bendable strategy within a resilient envelope of clarity to survive shocks.
Do Future-Back Thinking
- Think future-back: imagine a plausible 10-year future then work backward to gain clarity on direction.
- Use 50 years of history to spot patterns and avoid assuming predictable outcomes.
