Turning Systemic Vulnerabilities into Strategic Opportunities: A Research Proposal for Societal Grand Challenges

This research proposal develops the Adaptive Effectuation for Societal Impact (AESI) framework,
integrating effectuation theory, complexity science, and artificial intelligence (AI) to address societal
grand challenges (SGCs). The proposed study employs a mixed methods approach to explore how
organizations can operationalize AESI to navigate systemic risks and enhance adaptive capacity.
Through qualitative interviews, focus groups, and document analysis, alongside quantitative surveys and structural equation modeling, the research proposes to validate the framework’s theoretical underpinnings and practical relevance. This proposal seeks to contribute novel insights into strategic intelligence, stakeholder engagement, and AI-enabled decision-making, offering a robust foundation for addressing the complexities of SGCs with resilience and sustainability.

Keywords: Effectuation, Artificial Intelligence, Societal Impact, Complexity Science

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Sharma, Steph and Layes, Joachim and Akbar, Yusaf H. and Esposito, Mark, Turning Systemic Vulnerabilities into Strategic Opportunities: A Research Proposal for Societal Grand Challenges (January 15, 2025). Accepted to be presented at SMS Palermo Conference, 21-23 May 2025, University of Rome, LUMSA Palermo Campus , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5129751 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5129751