If Snowstorms are Easier Than Sea Changes, Should Sea Changes Still Be Welcome in the C-Suite?

Abstract

There are many kinds of corporate crises. Some are triggered by an aggressive, creative new competitor or an industry merger. Others by a management implosion, or a failure to innovate or malfeasance. New regulations, interrupted supply chains, and cyberattacks can also trigger crises. These crises are equivalent to nasty snowstorms, an intense winter blizzard season, or other temporary, but serious disruptions. However, with the right, well-timed moves, they can be endured, even averted. But there are also unpredictable, inexplicable, and pervasive crises that defy modeling and management. Sometimes these crises hit just about everyone. The COVID-19 pandemic is an example of this kind of crisis, a crisis of the second kind, a sea change.