Kohanduvus

Kohanduvus is a noun in Estonian that denotes the capacity to adjust to changing conditions. It describes the ability of individuals, groups, organizations, systems, or organisms to modify behaviors, structures, or processes in response to new or shifting demands, environments, or constraints. The concept encompasses timeliness and flexibility in adapting rather than simply enduring change.

In biology and ecology, kohanduvus refers to the ways organisms adjust to environmental changes, such as variations in climate, food availability, or habitat. These adjustments can be behavioral, physiological, or morphological and may occur over short timescales or through longer-term evolutionary processes. Kohanduvus in this context is related to but distinct from genetic adaptation, which involves heritable changes over generations.

In technology, business, and education, kohanduvus describes the ability of systems, organizations, or individuals to reconfigure workflows, adopt new tools, or revise strategies to maintain performance under new conditions. This includes modular design, flexible planning, continuous learning, and rapid decision-making.

Measuring kohanduvus often involves assessing responsiveness, resilience, and the ease with which change can be absorbed without loss of function or quality. Practices that foster kohanduvus include scenario planning, ongoing training, feedback mechanisms, and a culture that supports experimentation and learning from failures. Related terms include kohanemisvõime and paindlikkus, which emphasize different nuances of adaptability.