Webinar: Business Continuity in the Covid Era

By: Carlo Rivera, Academic Coordinator

The harsh realities of the global Covid pandemic have affected businesses across the board. None are untouched. The vast changes to the way people interact with the economy represent an existential threat to many businesses, especially the small, medium, and micro businesses so vital to the economy.

To address the growing alarm and offer a clear-eyed perspective on how companies can survive the challenges of the pandemic, Thames International held a webinar on Business Continuity in the Covid Era on July 10, 2020. The lead speaker was Richard Farr Course Leader at the University of Hull. Assisting him were panelists Edwin Africa, SVP & General Manager of Century Pacific Foods, and Tina Tan Santos, President of Suysing Corp. The introductory address was delivered by Thames Chancellor John Batten.

Parr delivered a sobering picture of the risks businesses must deal with during the pandemic. It is, as he said, “a terrible time of disruption.” For the first time, the supply chain is making the news as companies around the world scramble to compensate for their supply lines being cut off at the root. Parr spoke extensively on empty shelves, panic buying, game theory, and how the pandemic has exposed the limitations of globalization. Parties who have gamed the system to advantage inadvertently created a recipe for chaos. With huge disruptions going on all the time, cash is key, and businesses need to keep an eye on their liquidity. In addition, the world has major issues that were problems before Covid came along and remain pressing concerns.

Edwin Africa pointed out that planning is critical because “we are embroiled in the global supply chain.” Tina Tan Santos talked about stock allocation, and the importance of avoiding empty shelves. A lot of our processes, she said, need to be digitized so that business goes on even in crisis.

There is hope behind the bad news, though. Parr noted that Supply Chain Management professionals will be critical to the recovery – this is the time to pick up those skills. With that in mind, Thames International School President Joel Santos introduced a co-partnership between University of Hull and Thames for online master’s degree options.

If you’re interested in augmenting your skills and making connections with some of the brightest minds in business education today, please take a look at our future-proof undergraduate degree programs.

Lastly, the purpose of Thames International is to mold pathfinders that will drive positive social impact in this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. The Innovation and Creative Entrepreneurship (ICE) Program has always been in pursuit of this – helping freelancers, creative entrepreneurs, and professionals innovate solutions for a more sustainable business that make a positive impact on society. Explore the ICE Program here.