Crisis Management: The role of leadership & decision making in complex environment

Abstract

Over the last 25 years, the world has faced a variety of natural and man-made crises that have impacted our decision-making, behaviors, and attitudes as individuals and as a society. These crises have forced leaders and decision-makers in various roles to prioritize crisis management and develop innovative strategic frameworks. The rapid pace of technological and industrial development has also led to increased complexity in daily operations and the need for organizational change management.

This thesis examines the importance of sound leadership and decision-making in crisis contexts to address these issues, providing empirical evidence and analysis of the key factors and phases involved. Through direct engagement with stakeholders in crisis management, the research considers the short-, medium-, and long-term impacts of decisions made before, during, and after crises.

The methodology employed a mixed-methods approach over two years, from 2021 to 2022, focusing on leadership and decision-making in complex environments as essential components of crisis management. By overlaying the findings with previous research, this work provides a clearer understanding of the scope of crisis management in today's world.