HomeResearch & Knowledgeback to HomeStrategyback to Research & KnowledgeAddressing the Covid-19 crisis: The CEO agenda (Mini case)back to Strategy

Case Study

Addressing the Covid-19 crisis: The CEO agenda (Mini case)

By Knut Bjarne Haanaes and Lisa Simone Duke

3 pages

May 2020

Order this case study

Reference: IMD-7-2193

This mini case talks about why we should not have been surprised by the COVID pandemic as the likelihood was foreseen and awareness raised several times, not only from previous pandemics but also their increasing regularity as the world increasingly globalizes. The case explores these awareness raising attempts. It then suggests for a talking point that sustainable solutions to outbreak readiness require private-public cooperation on a global scale and talks to the reaction of some companies in facing the pandemic and playing a part in the action taken to contain it.

Learning Objective

What can we learn from the reactions to COVID-19 pandemic?
How can businesses participate with responses of governments?

Keywords

COVID-19, Pandemic, Preparedness, Whole-of-Society Approach, Global Public-Private Partnership, Business, Society, Business-Society Collaboration, Strategy

Settings

World/global
2020

Type

Published Sources

Available Languages

English

IMD case studies are distributed through case clearing houses. In order to browse the collection and purchase copies please visit the links below.

The Case Centre

Cranfield University

Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]

Harvard Business School Publishing

60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]

Asia Pacific Case Center

NUCB Business School

1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]

IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

This case study is part of a series

Addressing the Covid-19 crisis: The CEO agenda (Mini case)
Climate change: How fast can change happen? (Mini case)
Distinguishing greening from greenwashing (Mini case)
Friedman meets Freeman – Who got it right on the future of capitalism? (Revised) (Mini Case)
From crisis to the new normal (Mini case)
Looking back from 2030: We turned the corner on climate - How did we get here? (Revised) (Mini case)

This case study is part of a series

Addressing the Covid-19 crisis: The CEO agenda (Mini case)
Climate change: How fast can change happen? (Mini case)
Distinguishing greening from greenwashing (Mini case)
Friedman meets Freeman – Who got it right on the future of capitalism? (Revised) (Mini Case)
From crisis to the new normal (Mini case)
Looking back from 2030: We turned the corner on climate - How did we get here? (Revised) (Mini case)

Addressing the Covid-19 crisis: The CEO agenda (Mini case)

By Knut Bjarne Haanaes and Lisa Simone Duke
Case reference: IMD-7-2193 ©2020

Summary

This mini case talks about why we should not have been surprised by the COVID pandemic as the likelihood was foreseen and awareness raised several ...

Reference IMD-7-2193

Available Languages English

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Strategy

Browse all topics

Climate change: How fast can change happen? (Mini case)

By Knut Bjarne Haanaes and Lisa Simone Duke
Case reference: IMD-7-2194 ©2020

Summary

This case two opposite perspectives – the glass half full that through global collaboration and belief in scientific evidence of the ozone layer, t...

Reference IMD-7-2194

Available Languages English

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Sustainability

Browse all topics

Distinguishing greening from greenwashing (Mini case)

By Knut Bjarne Haanaes and Lisa Simone Duke
Case reference: IMD-7-2196 ©2020

Summary

This case explores the phenomenon of ‘greenwashing’ and how many companies communicate that they are serious about sustainability but how, in reali...

Reference IMD-7-2196

Available Languages English

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Sustainability

Browse all topics

Friedman meets Freeman – Who got it right on the future of capitalism? (Revised) (Mini Case)

By Salvatore Cantale and Knut Bjarne Haanaes
Case reference: IMD-7-2197 ©2020

Summary

This mini case sets up a debate about capitalism. Milton Friedman, in 1970, shared his view of the social responsibility of business to be increase...

Reference IMD-7-2197

Available Languages English

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Strategy

Browse all topics

From crisis to the new normal (Mini case)

By Knut Bjarne Haanaes and Lisa Simone Duke
Case reference: IMD-7-2198 ©2020

Summary

This mini case illustrates different sustainability examples and the repercussions and consequences and how these have changed over the years. It t...

Reference IMD-7-2198

Available Languages English

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Sustainability

Crisis Management

Browse all topics

Looking back from 2030: We turned the corner on climate - How did we get here? (Revised) (Mini case)

By Knut Bjarne Haanaes
Case reference: IMD-7-2195 ©2020

Summary

This mini case is a fictional version of the future that looks back from 2030 to how the world has tackled climate change. It is a reflective persp...

Reference IMD-7-2195

Available Languages English

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Strategy

Artificial Intelligence

Browse all topics

Keep reading

Article

AXA’s 2026 people priorities: AI, mental health, and learning

AXA CHRO Sandrine Girszyn outlines three people priorities for 2026: AI adoption, employee mental health, and building a continuous learning mindset.

Human Resources Strategy

in I by IMD

Book

Clean winners: Sustainability strategy that puts customers first

Despite massive investments, sustainable business still isn't very profitable for most companies. Here's a fresh approach for resetting sustainability for customer value—and profitability. Store aisles packed with products labelled "environmentall...

Sustainability Strategy

By Goutam Challagalla and Frédéric Dalsace

Case Study

‘Big Fix’ at Starbucks: Will customers come back? The new CEO’s first year

In September 2024, Starbucks' then-CEO was abruptly fired after 17 months in the role; the decision followed three quarterly drops in consumer traffic and declining operating revenues. The board then turned to Brian Niccol, a veteran fast-food com...

Strategy Marketing Leadership

By Kamran Kashani and Nancy Lane

Article

5 strategic imperatives to transform geopolitical turbulence into advantage

Simon J Evenett and Oliver Jones show how to navigate geopolitical volatility and turn uncertainty into competitive advantage.

Geopolitics Strategy

By Simon J. Evenett and Oliver Jones

in I by IMD

Video

Why women’s leadership matters in the age of AI

AI is reshaping leadership and work. Ensuring women help design and govern it will determine whether the technology advances equity or deepens inequality.

Corporate Governance Diversity and Equity and Inclusion Leadership Strategy Technology Management

By Heather Cairns-Lee

in I by IMD

Article

How to scale with purpose: 5 lessons from Vinted

Milda Mitkute shares lessons from scaling second-hand clothes business Vinted into Lithuania’s first unicorn, and launching a new startup to make maths education more engaging and accessible for children.

Innovation Strategy

By Milda Mitkute

in I by IMD Brain Circuits

11 March 2026

Podcast

Slawomir Krupa, how can a 160-year-old bank reinvent itself?

How do you rebuild trust in a 160-year-old bank? Société Générale CEO Slawomir Krupa on discipline, fintech disruption, and tough turnaround decisions.

Finance Investment Leadership Strategy

By Jean-François Manzoni

in I by IMD

Case Study

Hong Kong Broadband Network: An integrated approach to talent management (Paper version)

Hong Kong Broadband Network (HKBN) charted a success story starting out as the smallest new entrant in Hong Kong’s highly competitive telecom industry in 1999 and went on to become the second largest provider of residential broadband within 10 yea...

Strategy

By Shlomo Ben-Hur and Ivy Buche

Article

Adam Smith and the miracle of your caffè latte

The Wealth of Nations remains a cornerstone of economic thought. Adam Smith’s treatise on free trade is relevant for today’s fracturing global economy.

Economics Finance Strategy

By Stefan Michel

in I by IMD

Article

Four moves to create data strategy competitive advantage | I by IMD

Data strategy competitive advantage depends on a proprietary knowledge base of internal and external data powering predictive models.

Strategy

By Misiek Piskorski

in I by IMD

AXA’s 2026 people priorities: AI, mental health, and learning

in I by IMD

Summary

AXA CHRO Sandrine Girszyn outlines three people priorities for 2026: AI adoption, employee mental health, and building a continuous learning mindset.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Human Resources

Strategy

Browse all topics

Clean winners: Sustainability strategy that puts customers first

By Goutam Challagalla and Frédéric Dalsace
Published by Harvard Business Review Press ©2026

Summary

Available Languages English

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Sustainability

Strategy

Browse all topics

‘Big Fix’ at Starbucks: Will customers come back? The new CEO’s first year

By Kamran Kashani and Nancy Lane
Case reference: IMD-2687 ©2026

Summary

Reference IMD-2687

Organization Starbucks

Industry Consumer Goods, Coffee

Available Languages English

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Strategy

Marketing

Leadership

Browse all topics

5 strategic imperatives to transform geopolitical turbulence into advantage

By Simon J. Evenett and Oliver Jones
in I by IMD

Summary

Simon J Evenett and Oliver Jones show how to navigate geopolitical volatility and turn uncertainty into competitive advantage.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Geopolitics

Strategy

Browse all topics

How to scale with purpose: 5 lessons from Vinted

By Milda Mitkute
in I by IMD Brain Circuits 11 March 2026

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Innovation

Strategy

Browse all topics

Slawomir Krupa, how can a 160-year-old bank reinvent itself?

By Jean-François Manzoni
in I by IMD

Summary

How do you rebuild trust in a 160-year-old bank? Société Générale CEO Slawomir Krupa on discipline, fintech disruption, and tough turnaround decisions.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Finance

Investment

Leadership

Strategy

Browse all topics

Hong Kong Broadband Network: An integrated approach to talent management (Paper version)

By Shlomo Ben-Hur and Ivy Buche
Case reference: IMD-7-1673-P ©2016

Summary

Reference IMD-7-1673-P

Organization Hong Kong Broadband Network

Industry Services, Telecommunications

Available Languages English

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Strategy

Browse all topics

Adam Smith and the miracle of your caffè latte

By Stefan Michel
in I by IMD

Summary

The Wealth of Nations remains a cornerstone of economic thought. Adam Smith’s treatise on free trade is relevant for today’s fracturing global economy.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Economics

Finance

Strategy

Browse all topics