The elements of resilience

Let’s have a closer look at the definition raised in my previous post ‘Resilience – what is it really?’

If I break down my definition of resilience it allows us to further explore the component parts

Let’s look at the definition again:

the capability, capacity and will to succeed by anticipating risk and reorientating for survival and advantage in the face of adversity, both seen and unseen, known and unknown

The capability: The skilled people, tools, knowledge and risk intelligence required to achieve resilience and ensure success.

The capacity: The adequate resources and the agility and flexibility to adapt and manoeuvre those resources in pursuit of upside risk while minimising any downside risk.

The will: The effective leadership, adaptive culture and unity of purpose required in situations characterised by rapid change and/or sustained turbulence.

Survival and advantage: In a competitive environment survival is often not adequate. The risk appetite and subsequent activities of the organisation must also allow for advantage.

Adversity – seen and unseen, known and unknown: risks (both upside and downside) are present in the business as usual environment. However, complexity, confusion and the scale and number of variables in the operating environment (at all levels) are magnified during and after turbulence and sudden shocks (thus the need for resilience).

The definition and explanation reflects my own views but is informed by the documents developed and published through the Trusted Information Sharing Network - http://www.tisn.gov.au/Pages/Resilience.aspx