12. The Organization as a Mixed Martial Artist: A Metaphor for Environmental Uncertainty

Infamous boxing legend Mike Tyson once declared, “Everyone has a plan until they get hit.” Simply put, even the best laid plans often come up short in the heat of the battle. Organizations are not exempt from these realities. Although it seems unorthodox on the surface, research suggests that organizations have a lot in common with combat athletes such as the mixed martial artist. One could argue that organizations that are prepared to overcome environmental uncertainty share three qualities with mixed martial artists: flexibility, adaptability, and reliability. This chapter explains how in the same way that mixed martial artist must prepare for the unknown of the combat environment, organizations must also strategically prepare for disruptions and change. For the organization, preparation involves both an offensive and defensive approach to change. The metaphor presented in this chapter serves as a conceptual bridge between organizational theory, the Christian scriptures, and organizational practice.