The successfulness of crisis management teams' response to the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Crises are an inevitable part of the life cycle of any organisation, regardless of its location, size, market, and sector. At the beginning of 2020, all organisations faced a new crisis caused by a COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid spread of the disease and its consequences to human health required a quick reaction of organisations to protect the health and safety of employees through physical distancing. Organisations had to reorganise their way of doing business and adapt to new circumstances. The first response to the crisis is to activate or form a crisis management team. The main goal of the crisis management team is to prepare the organisation for a new way of functioning by using all its opportunities and strengths to minimise the negative effects of the crisis. The success of crisis management and the recovery of an organisation depend on the quality of functioning of the crisis management team. The results of a survey conducted during April and May 2020 which included 108 members of crisis management teams showed that the respective teams responded adequately to the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Research results showed that team members reacted quickly to the first signs of the crisis. They made real-time decisions by using a holistic approach due to their different knowledge, skills and experience, clear team roles, commitment to a common goal, open, honest and effective communication, and mutual trust.