Ordeal or opportunity: IDPS journey through COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Learning outcomes

This case enables students to understand the nature of a typical crisis and manage a crisis drawing insights from the protagonist handling of the crisis and from the various crisis management models in the literature. The rich description of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the world in this case enables students to understand the nature of a typical external crisis. The critical appraisal of the protagonist’s plans and actions to overcome the crisis enables students to appreciate the various crisis management frameworks or models. In addition, students get perspectives about the leadership skills and competencies required during a crisis. In this way, students will not only learn about the theoretical concepts related to the crisis but also the practical know-how to effectively handle the crisis.

Case overview/synopsis

This case study describes the functioning of the International Delhi Public School (IDPS) Akhnoor, Jammu, and Kashmir, India, through the COVID-19 global crisis. The IDPS academic operations were disrupted because of the COVID-19 global crisis in March 2020. The protagonist, KCS Mehta, the school principal of IDPS, faced with the crisis, takes various steps to ensure the smooth transition of school’s academic operations from the physical mode to the online mode. This case explains the nature of an external crisis that completely crippled the organization’s day-to-day operations and how the organization’s leader tried to manage the crisis to revitalize the organization’s operations. The case can be used for teaching of alternate Models of Crisis Management and Change Management.

Complexity academic level

The case is developed to teach the courses of Executive training programs and MBA programs in business schools.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.

Citation

Dimple, D., Nirmal, D.D., Kumar, M. and Puri, V. (2022), "Ordeal or opportunity: IDPS journey through COVID-19 pandemic", , Vol. 12 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/EEMCS-01-2022-0008