Crisis Management →
- 03 Apr 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Working (From Home) During a Crisis: Online Social Contributions by Workers During the Coronavirus Shock
This study shows that people working from home (WFH) make more online contributions to socially helpful topics, yet face higher psychic costs and anxiety about time constraints. Managers might consider giving WFH workers more temporal flexibility to deal with time constraints during this crisis.
- 02 Apr 2020
- What Do You Think?
What Are Lessons for Leaders from This Black Swan Crisis?
SUMMING UP: Readers of this month's James Heskett post disagree on whether COVID-19 is a Black Swan event, but most argue that organizations must be better prepared for inevitable downturns. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 26 Mar 2020
- Research & Ideas
7 Leadership Principles for Managing in the Time of Coronavirus
Leaders managing their organizations through crisis show seven distinctive capabilities, says John A. Quelch. Call them the seven Cs. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 24 Mar 2020
- Research & Ideas
These Coronavirus Heroes Show Us How Crisis Leadership Works
Now is the time for leaders to inspire their organizations to help the world through the COVID-19 crisis. Bill George has a list of authentic leaders who are up to the challenge. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 20 Mar 2020
- Research & Ideas
How Small Businesses Can Survive the Coronavirus Outbreak
COVID-19 will put many small businesses on life support. Karen G. Mills, who has been advising policymakers on aid options, offers guidance to owners on the brink of ruin. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 16 Mar 2020
- Research & Ideas
How the Coronavirus Is Already Rewriting the Future of Business
We asked Harvard Business School experts how the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to change business practice. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 07 Oct 2019
- Sharpening Your Skills
How Companies Can Make Up with (Very) Unhappy Customers
It happens to the best of companies. One fine day a public relations nightmare explodes and shatters your hard-won trust with customers. What should you do next? Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 30 Nov 2018
- What Do You Think?
What’s the Best Administrative Approach to Climate Change?
SUMMING UP: James Heskett's readers point to examples of complex environmental problems conquered through multinational cooperation. Can those serve as roadmaps for overcoming global warming? Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Jun 2018
- Research & Ideas
Cut Salaries or Cut People? The Best Way to Survive a Downturn
When times are tight, companies usually respond with employee layoffs. But what if they held on to workers and cut their salaries instead? New research by Christopher Stanton and colleagues has the answer. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 16 May 2018
- Research & Ideas
How Companies Managed Risk (and Even Benefitted) in World War Internment Camps
Foreign businesses located in at-war countries are often victims of expropriation. Historian Valeria Giacomin explores how German businesses in the United Kingdom and India mitigated risk and even benefitted when their employees were placed in internment camps during the World Wars. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 24 Apr 2018
- Op-Ed
Op-Ed: What Mark Zuckerberg Can Learn About Crisis Leadership from Starbucks
Starbucks and Facebook present a contrast in crisis leadership, says Bill George. While Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson stepped up to take responsibility and met with victims, Mark Zuckerberg delayed action and side-stepped responsibility. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 10 Jul 2017
- Op-Ed
Op-Ed: It’s a Bad Idea to Ban Customers From Recording Videos
With videos of bad business practices routinely going viral, it might be tempting to prohibit customers from recording their surroundings. But banning cameras is the wrong way to go, says Benjamin Edelman. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 17 May 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
Turbulence, Firm Decentralization and Growth in Bad Times
What makes some firms more resilient than others to large negative macro shocks? This paper finds that the internal organization of firms—specifically, the extent to which decision-making is decentralized from headquarters to plant managers—is an important mediating factor through which macroeconomic shocks affect firm performance and, ultimately, growth.
- 23 Mar 2017
- Cold Call Podcast
Cost-cutting Leads to Turbulence in the Airline Industry
When a business known for delivering an exemplary customer experience faces cutbacks, what services get chopped? Assistant Professor Susanna Gallani discusses a recent case study about an airline that looks not just to survive a downturn but emerge stronger. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 21 Dec 2016
- Cold Call Podcast
Target's Expensive Cybersecurity Mistake
Professor Suraj Srinivasan explores one of the largest cyber breaches in history, analyzing why failures happen, who should be held accountable, and how preventing them is both a technical problem and a matter of organizational design. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 10 Aug 2016
- Research & Ideas
Prospective Students Steer Clear of Schools Rocked by Scandal
Who says there is no such thing as bad publicity? When a college experiences a scandal, applications drop. Michael Luca explains what colleges and other businesses should learn when bad news dips the demand curve. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 08 Aug 2016
- Lessons from the Classroom
Panic Management: Keep Your Eyes on the Road
Many of us respond with a knee-jerk reaction when adversity hits, but a more considered approach is better for a successful resolution. Joshua Margolis discusses the resilience regimen. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 20 May 2016
- Op-Ed
World Health Organization Lacks Leadership to Combat Pandemics
When it comes to emergency preparedness for pandemics, the World Health Organization is falling short, argues John A. Quelch. A better solution: The World Bank. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Apr 2016
- What Do You Think?
As Tim Cook, How Would You Tackle Apple's Next Challenge?
SUMMING UP With Apple's technology now apparently less secure, CEO Tim Cook suddenly has some critical decisions to make. James Heskett guides us through the options and asks for suggestions. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
Small Businesses Are Worse Off Than We Thought
A survey of small-business owners shows that lack of liquidity and skepticism of government programs are compounding COVID crisis recovery efforts. Open for comment; 0 Comments.