Managing Environmental Uncertainty: From Conceptual Review to Strategic Management Point of View

Abstract

Uncertainty surrounds all aspects of organizations' lives. We rarely find studies in the field of organization and management not mentioned the phenomenon of environmental uncertainty. Despite the ubiquity of studies around the topic, there are many incompatibilities and inconsistencies in the definition and application of the concept. In this paper we try to classify the main issues and controversies around the topic and review some of the outstanding studies in this regard. As the ultimate goal of studying uncertainty in organization is to face it in the choice of appropriate strategies, we also have a brief review on the impacts of environmental uncertainty on organizational strategic decisions and managers' actions. Finally, we refer to some of the frameworks and approaches that are mainly presented in the field of strategic management for dealing with uncertainty, and resolving the strategy paradox between uncertainty and commitment to strategies.