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Case Study

British Petroleum (B): The Deepwater Horizon explosion

By Paul Strebel and Brian Rogers

3 pages

May 2011

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Reference: IMD-3-2181

The B-case highlights some of the changes Hayward had implemented since becoming CEO in 2007. After Hayward announced that BP’s top strategic priorities for 2010 were ongoing cost cutting, production growth and alternative energy, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010, triggering the largest oil spill in history. As the crisis unfolded, BP and Hayward made a number of missteps that angered the residents of the Gulf, environmental groups and politicians, including President Obama.

Learning Objective

Communicating during a crisis, preparing a crisis message strategy.

Keywords

Strategy, Leadership, Crisis Management, General Management

Settings

BP, Materials, Oil and Gas, Energy
2007-2010

Type

Published Sources

Available Languages

English

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Teaching note

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