The COVID-19 crisis

Abstract

A global pandemic has disrupted our normal way of living and doing business. An extreme and rare event without precedent in modern times has put large parts of the global community on lockdown, resulting in major implications and disruptions for organizations all around the globe. This research examines how a global manufacturing company is managing the situation. Interviews with top management and the global crisis management team were conducted to learn about the actions taken in the first few months of the pandemic. Furthermore, the documented processes and action plans were reviewed. This research was then compared to ISO 22301 and scientific literature related to Business Continuity Management. The results showed many similarities between methods used by Marel and what is considered best practice in Business Continuity Management, but also some opportunities for improvements. What stands out is the positive effects on the organization, which have emerged from the situation.