In complex environments, being too rigid creates risk. Systems built for one scenario can break when conditions change. Designing for flexibility means recognising that change is constant and building in room to adjust. It's the difference between fighting uncertainty and working with it.
Flexibility takes many forms. It might mean community facilities that can switch purposes: a hall that works as a meeting space, an evacuation centre or a cool retreat during heatwaves. It could be access tracks with multiple entry points, or emergency supplies stored in several locations rather than one. It's communication plans that work when mobile towers fail and when they don't.
Flexible processes matter too. This means having multiple people trained in essential skills so you're not reliant on one person being available. It's plans that can scale up or down depending on the situation: a small response for minor events, a larger mobilisation when needed. Regular reviews and updates keep these processes relevant as conditions change.
Good flexibility balances clarity and independence. Too many options create confusion; too much control slows everything down. The skill lies in setting clear principles and coordination that keeps everyone aligned while allowing local adaptation.
Flexibility also needs ongoing attention. What works today might not work next season. Reviewing decisions, testing assumptions, and refining approaches keeps systems responsive. The goal isn't to predict every scenario, but to stay ready for whichever one shows up.
Something to chew on:
Where could you trade fixed plans for flexible options that build lasting capacity?
Resilience Bites offers weekly insights from the Australian Resilience Centre, drawn from decades of work alongside communities across Australia and internationally. Each Bite explores an aspect of resilience and closes with a reflective question to chew on.
Across the series we'll explore themes that shape resilience in practice, including place, patterns, networks, leadership, learning, feedbacks, thresholds and the deeper work of change.
This series is for people working in communities, landscapes, systems and change. It will help you learn key resilience concepts, apply them in practice and build our collective capacity to create resilient futures.
To learn more about the Australian Resilience Centre and explore our work and services, please visit https://www.ausresilience.com.au/
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