Boards Under Crisis

Economic history interprets crises as cyclical events. However, we are currently experiencing an acceleration of these cycles. In 25 years (2000-2024), we have lived the Twin Towers Attack in 2001, the Financial Crash in 2008, the Covid-2019 pandemic, and current military crises in Ukraine and the Middle East. In the first edition of this book, the authors identified three decision-making patterns (short termism, centralization, and parochialism) characterizing Boardrooms decisions during the financial crash. In this revised and updated edition, the authors explore the main commonalities and differences of decision-making processes between the previous financial crisis and the current continuous crisis regime. The authors highlight how and where the organizational impact of short-termism, centralization and parochialism on Boards decision-making can prove detrimental. Alberto Lavín is Strategy Adjunct Professor for IE Business School. Previously a partner with Accenture, the consulting giant, he now heads his own consulting practice and acts as a family business nonexecutive director and advisor. In 2014, he published, together with Carmelo Mazza, “Boards under crisis: board action under pressure”. Carmelo Mazza holds a PhD in Business Economics from IESE Business School. His research interests focus on decision-making and on creative processes. In the last three decades, he has taught in leading institutions (among others, Copenhagen Business School, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, and IE Business School) and acted as management consultant and top manager.