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The economic and market environment today is characterized by the unprecedented levels of uncertainty brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Stock markets around the world are experiencing dramatic declines and extreme volatility as investors sell off their equity investments and flee to assets considered safe havens (e.g., gold and government debt). The full extent of the economic and business disruptions, duration of the crisis, time to recover, shape of recovery and possibility of a second wave of Covid-19 infections are still unknown. All these factors have made valuations challenging.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has had a disruptive effect on our lives and the economy. It is all over the headlines: missed sales targets, lost earnings, foreclosures and job losses. At times like these, organizations often consider downsizing or reducing the number of employees. However, downsizing as a management directive must be implemented as a last resort. Rather than take such drastic and irreversible measures, companies may want to reconsider other options and opportunities such as strategic organizational rightsizing.

I have seen the human resources (HR) profession and its related functions progress in the past two decades from managing administrative personnel to being a stakeholder that mirrors changes in the business. Over the past two months, however, HR’s leadership and influence have been put to the test in response to the disruption caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

This coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic is edging us closer towards an inflection point, where cyberspace becomes the primary channel for businesses to reach, engage and retain customers. At this critical point in time, organizations must decide whether to adapt and evolve or remain unchanged. The current state of affairs is that technology has become the buoy that is keeping businesses afloat.

More than 1.5 billion students and young learners globally are affected by school and university closures due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Schools have remained closed for weeks, and no one knows for certain when we will come out of the lockdowns, as the pandemic shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Having studied and practiced management over many years, I seldom come across companies stating that among their key success factors (KSFs) are cleanliness and health and safety practices. At most, these are practiced, but neither expressly recognized nor stated as KSFs (e.g., there are clean rooms in semiconductor manufacturing plants, and there are health and safety standards for food processing).

In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, new ways of interacting are rapidly affecting our way of life. As we continue to stay and work at home, however, data privacy concerns may have been pushed into the sidelines.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has resulted in significant disruption, and presents unexpected challenges for organizations of all sizes and sectors across the world. As we have seen, the spread of Covid-19 throughout communities is quickly changing how people live and work and how businesses operate.