How do we define critical work activity in the Covid-19 world?

Over the years we have come to recognize that our modern society cannot function without some specific services. Depending on who you ask, this list may include Police, Firefighters, Paramedics, Heath care workers and perhaps those who pick up our garbage and keep our lights on and our water running.

What this pandemic has made clear (at least to me), is that the true the true scope of essential services is far wider than the pre-pandemic paradigm would suggest.

Our supply chains for medical equipment, medications, foodstuff, and the transportation system that delivers these essentials, as well as raw materials to production facilities, and moves the finished goods to point of use all over the world are now emerging as critical. If we are to deal effectively with the global challenge that this pandemic represents, the manufacture of medicines and medical equipment, and the ability to support them in their roles would now clearly seem to qualify as "essential services". Add to this the ability for our leaders to communicate effectively while in isolation, and for on-line services and information to be available to everyone affected, and you can add our communication industry to the essential list.

The deeper you delve into the how best we can respond to the current situation, the more the list of essential services is likely to expand. The bottom line is that the globalization of trade and the increasingly complex supply chains that are driven by the quest for efficiency, competitive advantage and expanded market presence have evolved to create a world where inter dependencies are the norm.

As we struggle to recover from the effects of Covid-19, our biggest challenge may become how we address the weak links in our global supply chain. I am sure that some will claim that the best response is to work towards supply independence, but given that that was where we started with the industrial revolution, I find it highly improbable that this model could be reestablished in any viable manner.

Conversely, if we recognize and build on the the specialist capabilities that already exist wherever in the world, it seems much more likely that we will advance the lot of everyone. So, perhaps the real challenge moving forward will be to better develop our relationships with our global partners, reconcile with our enemies, and work to ensure that they have access the basic building blocks needed to become a more effective skilled and efficient contributor to the global supply chain, so that they are not the weak link when the next pandemic strikes.

If we do this right, perhaps the legacy of Covid-19 will be that it made the path towards a true global civilization a little more obvious.