個案資料

In March 2020, the Government of India announced a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Only organizations deemed to be working in essential services were allowed to continue operating. This lockdown lasted until May 2020, during which time companies faced transportation restrictions, supply chain issues, and staffing challenges, among others. Despite this, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) managed to achieve crude oil production and profits similar to the previous year. However, the company battled crises both onshore and offshore as it fought to care for its employees and their families amid lockdown conditions.<br><br>Two years later, the organizational stress and personal toll exacted by the nation’s lockdown still haunted the group. However, while the events had been traumatic and arduous, they also offered potential lessons for the company, something that the management team was interested in. What capabilities had aided the company during the lockdowns? ONGC’s Human Resources Director, Dr. Alka Mittal, wanted to understand how employees had coped and managed during the lockdowns so she could formulate a future-oriented “People Strategy Plan” to combat potential similar future crises. However, she was also worried that revisiting such intense experiences could bring strong negative emotions to the forefront and increase employee stress, thereby decreasing morale and job satisfaction. ONGC’s management needed to determine how best to handle the situation so that it could prepare for future crises without damaging its existing relationship with employees.

This case helps students assess the management implications of an unprecedented crisis; it provides an opportunity for students to consider the multi-dimensional impact of a crisis and the financial, operational, and strategic measures needed to combat its negative effects. Students may also use this case to examine the sources of employee resilience to deal with these hardships. After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to<br><br><ul><li>evaluate the financial, operational, and human factors affected by a crisis;</li><li>analyze and understand the responses and priorities of an organization successfully overcoming the crisis and the vision and action required by its leadership to do so; and</li><li>apply organizational analysis to examine the sources and practices of organizational resilience, the human cost involved, and the trust instilled by an organization in its employees.</li></ul>

• crisis management
• organizational learning
• leadership
• COVID-19