Managing Through a Crisis: Managerial Implications for Business-to-business Firms

The world is in crisis, locked in the throes of an unprecedented economic lockdown as the coronavirus, in the specific form of COVID-19, takes its toll on societies around the world. At the time of this writing, countries have shut down vital parts of their administrations, education sectors, and economic activities. Whole industries, including hospitality and air transport, have essentially stopped functioning; the closing of national borders limits free movement to a minimum anyway. The related humanitarian crisis came as a shock to many people, and new restrictions together with enormous challenges represent a discontinuity, breaking from the past reality. Furthermore, this crisis features immense volatility, making it nearly impossible for people to imagine all the potential, invisible dangers and visible changes. Simply put, we are living in truly disruptive times.