Homo Agilis: Why Agility Is the Key Strategy in the Digital Age
Digital Disruption – A Historic Turning Point
“We are on the verge of one of the greatest transformations in human history.”
That’s how Matzler, Ballom et al. describe the impact of digital transformation in their book Digital Disruption (2016).
Technologies like:
Cloud computing
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
3D printing
Sensors and
Robotics
are changing entire industries, creating new services and simultaneously causing many jobs to disappear.
57% of Jobs at Risk?
According to an OECD study (Frey, 2015), up to 57% of all jobs could become obsolete due to digitalization.
But how many will really vanish – and who will benefit from the new ones – remains uncertain.
One thing is clear: the future is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous – in short: VUCA.
Why Classic Strategies Are No Longer Enough
In the VUCA world, past experience, linear thinking, and rational planning are losing relevance.
Cause-effect relationships are becoming unreliable.
Looking backward is no longer sufficient – what’s needed are new ways of thinking and meta strategies.
Agility as a Response to Complexity
Agility means:
Flexibility in thought and action
Rapid adaptation to changing conditions
A mix of reactive and proactive behavior
Agility is not just a toolbox – it's a mindset.
Self-Competence – Inner Stability in Times of Change
Agile teams only function when they have inner stability.
That stability is built on self-competence – the most crucial key skill set in the digital age.
The 5 Core Competencies of the HOMO AGILIS:
Intrinsic motivation
Self-awareness
Self-regulation
Implementation competence
Decision-making ability
These abilities make people action-ready, resilient, and future-proof – even in times of high uncertainty.
HOMO DIGITALIS – Agility Requires Social Skills
In addition to self-competence, the agile individual needs social skills to function within a team:
The 3 Key Social Competencies:
Communication skills
Conflict resolution skills
Ability to build trust
These are the foundation of effective teamwork – and essential for agile collaboration.
Why Generations Y & Z Embody Agility
Born after 1990, Generations Y and Z were raised with digital tools, flexibility, and a strong desire for purpose.
They don’t have to adapt – they already live agility.
Companies must adapt, if they want to harness the potential of young talent.
Agility Is Not the Goal – It’s the Tool
Agility is not an end in itself.
It’s a means to remain economically successful in an uncertain future.
Companies need:
Innovation capability
Creativity
Loyalty
and initiative
from young generations to stay competitive.
Conclusion: Homo Agilis Is the Future
To succeed in the digital age, we need:
Self-competence
Social competence
and an agile mindset
The HOMO AGILIS combines all of this – and is the ideal answer to the VUCA world.
