Cambridge Business Association
Business Resilience
Article

Business Resilience

The Global COVID-19 Pandemic Response Study

Josh Bersin
Josh Bersin, 2020
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Countless organizations continue to struggle to adapt to the massive disruption and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 crisis. For this white paper, HR expert Josh Bersin, in partnership with the analytics firm Perceptyx, surveyed more than 1,300 business leaders and HR professionals about their pandemic responses. The paper’s analysis offers much-needed guidance to business leaders looking for best practices. Interviews with senior executives of organizations such as Southwest Airlines and Deutsche Telekom provide concrete examples of these practices in action. 

Summary

Successful adaptation to the COVID-19 crisis hinges on 10 high-impact business practices.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged organizations to respond in innovative, creative and agile ways. A global analysis shows that among 53 practices that businesses have implemented in response to the pandemic situation, 10 practices in three crucial areas deliver the highest beneficial impact regardless of industry, geography or company size. Although the research identified these practices in the context of COVID-19, they will help to build business resilience to meet any crisis.

Business responses fall into one of four stages. In stage one, leaders focus on financial survival. In stage two, the organization makes caring for its people its primary concern. In stage three, the organization turns its focus to building agility and a resilient work culture. In stage four, businesses reinvent themselves by way of innovative hiring, job design, performance management and pay practices. Organizations’ performance levels increase with each stage of response – with stage one seeing the poorest performance and stage four seeing the highest...

About the Author

Josh Bersin is an internationally recognized analyst, educator and thought leader focusing on the global talent market and the challenges impacting business workforces around the world.

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