What is the BANI world and how does it affect your business?

what-is-the-bani-world

what-is-the-world-bani

2020 showed us that uncertainties are the only certainties we have.

That setting goals and plans is good, but that eventually everything may not go as expected, or may not even happen at all.

2020 has taught us a lot of things and before our eyes, we saw the world transform drastically. From offline to digital. From VUCA to BANI.

You’ve probably heard of the acronym VUCA, but what about BANI?

In today’s post, we talk more about this new term, which is being talked about a lot in the market.

Check it out!

 

The VUCA world

In a post here on the ME Blog, we have already explained what the VUCA world is.

The acronym is the combination of the words volatile, some, complex e ambiguous, and was created in the 80s, during the Cold War, to explain the adversities of the military universe.

At that time, the words “volatile”, “uncertain”, “complex” and “ambiguous” did not yet make as much sense to humanity in general as they do today, where things change in the blink of an eye and technology evolves exponentially.

Our human way of thinking, which is linear and thinks about one thing at a time, often has difficulty keeping up with so many changes. But more than ever, we need to train our brains to get used to VUCA and, now, BANI as well.

Are we prepared?

 

What is the BANI world?

The BANI world is an acronym made by joining the words “brittle","anxious","nonlinear"and "incomprehensible”. Or, in Portuguese, “fragile”, “anxious”, “non-linear” and “incomprehensible”.

The creator of the new concept is the American anthropologist, author and futurist, Jamais Cascio.

Never has several publications on the future of human evolution, education in the information age and emerging technologies.

In 2009, he was named to Foreign Policy Magazine's list of 100 Global Thinkers and delivered a famous TED on the future of humanity in an unpredictable scenario.

In addition, the futurist also participated in the National Geographic documentary, 6 Degrees That Could Change the World, which investigates the effects of global warming on Planet Earth.

 

Know the meaning of each of the words in the acronym:

Brittle – Fragile

In the BANI world, a system can function well on the surface even if it is on the verge of collapse.

Therefore, it is necessary to be careful not to trust operations 100%, even if they seem reliable, flexible and unbreakable.

Nowadays, any market can be on the verge of crashing and this happens, more often than not, as a result of constant profit maximization.

Furthermore, some sectors such as supply chain, energy and global trade, when they enter into crisis, can cause disruptions in several others and, consequently, in the entire world.

 

Anxious

Information is the new oil, but too much of it creates a big problem: anxiety.

Although technology is there to help us make decisions, you will inevitably feel powerless and unable to make important choices in times of pressure and tension.

The result of this is passivity – watching things happen and not taking action – while at the same time feeling dependent on other people’s choices, even knowing that they may not be the best option for the common good.

In a world with so much information, threats and fake news, it is essential to know how to deal with circumstances in a positive way. It is necessary to distance yourself from situations, see the positive aspects, opportunities and develop creative solutions to solve problems.

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence and how it is an indispensable factor in overcoming the crisis quickly and calmly.

 

Nonlinear – Non-Linear

In the BANI world, cause and effect is no longer a feasible framework in all cases.

Nowadays, we feel like we are in a non-linear film, where things go back and forth over and over again, and the end doesn't seem to be where it should be.

Therefore, creating long-term actions and plans no longer makes sense. The effects of decisions on the economy, climate issues and public health may not have a date to emerge or end.

Many of the global warming problems we are experiencing today are a consequence of decisions made by industry in the 80s. Just as the challenges and barriers imposed by the pandemic still have uncertain dimensions in the future of humanity.

In the current context, there is no longer a beginning, middle or end. It is necessary to be prepared to move forward and back a few spaces at any time.

 

Incomprehensible – Incomprehensible

Living in a fragile, anxious and non-linear world makes most events, causes and decisions incomprehensible. Human beings are determined to find answers, but in the current scenario it is not always possible to find them for everything.

Interestingly, having more information does not mean uncovering more meanings about the things that happen. In fact, it is the opposite: the noise increases and so does the difficulty in finding a universal truth.

In contrast, linear human thinking and our ability to understand the world remain the same.

 

The BANI scenario may seem like a dystopia, as the number of anxious and depressed people grows every day. However, we have also never had so much access and tools to change what we disagree with and build desirable futures for everyone.

Therefore, if the only option is to move forward, it is up to each of us to study, strengthen ourselves and try to prepare for the unpredictability that lies ahead. 😉

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