In the realm of crisis management, there’s a common temptation to rely on solutions that have
worked in the past. While past successes can provide valuable insights, it’s essential to understand
that every crisis is unique. Simply replicating old solutions can lead to missed opportunities and
unexpected challenges. So, why should organizations avoid this pitfall and instead develop strategies
tailored to the current situation?
- The Ever-Changing Landscape: The business world is in a constant state of flux. Economic,
technological, and societal changes continually reshape the landscape. What worked in a previous
crisis may not be relevant or effective in the current environment. Relying on outdated solutions can
hinder adaptability and responsiveness. - Unique Challenges Demand Unique Solutions: Each crisis brings its own set of challenges and
nuances. What worked flawlessly in one crisis may prove ineffective or even detrimental in another.
Tailoring solutions to the specific challenges at hand is crucial for mitigating risks and capitalizing on
opportunities. - Unforeseen Consequences: Blindly applying past solutions can lead to unforeseen consequences.
What worked in one situation may exacerbate problems in another. Careful consideration of the
current context is essential to avoid compounding issues. - Leverage Current Resources: Crisis management strategies should make the best use of the
resources available at the moment. Relying on past solutions may not align with the resources, skills,
or capabilities that the organization currently possesses. - Stakeholder Expectations: Stakeholders, including employees, customers, and partners, have
evolving expectations. A crisis demands responses that meet these changing expectations. A one-
size-fits-all approach may not suffice.
Developing Tailored Strategies:
To avoid the common mistake of relying on past solutions, organizations should take the following
steps: - Situation Assessment: Begin by conducting a comprehensive assessment of the current crisis.
Understand the root causes, the potential impact on the organization, and the specific challenges it
presents. - Stakeholder Engagement: Involve key stakeholders in the crisis management process. Their
insights can provide valuable perspectives and help in crafting effective strategies. - Flexibility and Adaptability: Develop a mindset of flexibility and adaptability. Be prepared to
adjust strategies as the crisis evolves. - Expert Consultation: Seek expert guidance when needed. External experts can bring fresh
perspectives and specialized knowledge to the table. - Continuous Evaluation: Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen strategies. Be
ready to pivot if necessary. - Manage Change: Most probably, changes will occur while implementing the chosen strategies. As
soon as they are defined through Continuous Evaluation, realistically determine their impact on the
process, estimate the deviations produced by them, and take action to mitigate them.
When the pandemic hit us in 2019, our main concern was the safety of all our colleagues. For this
reason, a decision was made at the corporate level to replace work from the office with remote
work. None of the crises before had a resemblance to this one and for this reason, we had to closely
follow the steps above. While preparing for the move, I studied all the information I could gather:
the WHO site, the Romanian Sanitary Authorities sites, local medical organizations who were
publishing advice and instructions, and the Corporate Health & Safety Department. In the action
were involved the IT Department to facilitate equipment relocation and remote assistance, the QA
Department to give instructions to people on how to check drawings on the screen (instead of being
printed), the Safety Department on how to organize their workstations, the Engineering Department
on how to follow work procedures without direct supervision, the Procurement Department on how
to ensure reliable access to Internet to everyone, the HR Department on how to organize their work
day. The move for about 150 people from 100% office work to 100% remote work took 48 hours.
Next weeks and months we closely monitored how our people felt working from a distance, how
was their health level, how remote work was conducted, and what was the level of satisfaction in
our clients, making corrections every time issues were detected. Without any previous experience in
pandemic conditions for any of us, the move was considered a great success.
In conclusion, effective crisis management requires a departure from the one-size-fits-all approach.
By understanding the unique challenges of the current situation and crafting strategies tailored to
those challenges, organizations can navigate crises more successfully and emerge stronger on the
other side. Adapting and innovating in the face of adversity is a hallmark of resilient organizations.
