Leading Through the Unknown: A Network Perspective of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This article provides a road map to swiftly operationalize the structure and process for organizational readiness in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic forced network leaders to face an unprecedented public health crisis while navigating circumstances driven by a widely impactful disease with minimal empirical evidence regarding disease spread, containment, and treatment. Key leaders across the enterprise planned, executed, and continually refined a strategy against the pandemic surge. Mission-driven decisions, communication, and actions were critical in connecting and informing the stakeholders about the evolving and uncertain conditions. In partnership with internal and external stakeholders, the use of data, technology, and innovation provided new opportunities to transform existing care and business models into adaptable prototypes for mitigating risks and informing tactical steps. Execution of testing sites, building a command center, and increasing bed capacity infused daily operations. Creating innovative processes, including working with private industry to secure resources and pioneering solutions, is the result of leveraging talented teams to produce solutions. Trustful partnerships among enterprise leaders and their constituents stemmed from a common, shared vision. Utilizing systems thinking led to optimizing a response and preparedness plan for now and for future pandemics.