Think beyond COVID-19{corona virus

On 18th March 2015 Bill Gates opined that: “The world is simply not prepared to deal with a disease—an especially virulent flu … that infects large numbers of people very quickly…… that could kill 10 million people or more…” and suggested that “we can prevent such a catastrophe by building a global warning and response system for epidemics. It would apply the kind of planning that goes into national defense—systems for recruiting, training, and equipping health workers; investments in new tools; etc.—to the effort to prevent and contain outbreaks”.

Regrettably, and despite that warning, the COVID-19- the corona virus- has today disrupted the world economy, global supply chains, airline flights and other social systems leading to the creation of barriers and borders across and within states, collapse of stock exchanges, extensive fear and panic resulting in nations and individuals forced to self-isolate in the name of urgent and immediate existential survival.

From an economic perspective, it appears the leaders are avoiding making investments, deferring decisions, freezing resources and failing to drive organizations forward based on that fear, doubt and the uncertainty at a time when ethical, strategic and innovative leadership is the most in need.

Unfortunately, the corona virus, devastating as it is, may only be signaling a new and radical transformation era which may shatter our previous assumptions about business and society.

Hence, the economic environment, that is already very competitive and changing rapidly, will become even more uncertain due to the disruption this causes, with new protectionist regulations; new and different business models, in addition to what is occasioned by the digital technologies and the dynamic global environment.

This demands that we prepare our national Think tanks, boards of directors and senior management teams to exercise ethical, strategic and innovative leadership that recognizes the interconnectedness between health, environment, and sustainability while effectively anticipating the trends that will affect operations and so as to turn our nation and organizations to face this new world.

The question therefore is- Are we purposively proactive in managing this crisis or merely passively reactive?

ACGAS Ltd considers that Kenya needs to excite and incite a all leaders and board members to think outside the box, exercise ethical, strategic and innovative leadership that will drive the competitive, performance and sustainable of the country and business enterprises in the new post corona virus world.  We cannot afford to just self-isolate, avoid making investments, defer decisions; freeze resource and fail to drive organizations forward in the name of urgent and immediate existential survival, and expect better results. 

We have to wake up and must wake up now.