An Indian Wedding

A case study in crisis management

Raju N Rao 1
9 March 2017 1
Crisis Management
What’s your take ?

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 Poll Question
• Which type of processes are most useful in
managing a crisis ? Choose one option
– Initiating
– Planning
– Executing
– Monitoring & Controlling
– Closing

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 Context

Conclusions Challenges

Agenda
Theoretical
Observations
Construct

Best What
went
Practices well
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Setting the context

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Chennai Floods Dec2015
• Floods …1st to 8th Dec
• Wedding …6th / 7th Dec
• Many weddings
– postponed /cancelled

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The Challenges

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Challenges….1

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Challenges…2

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Some Interesting Observations

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It pays to be ‘un-smart’ !

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In a crisis - the worst or the best

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Worst or the best … examples

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Management and Leadership styles

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Surprise of surprises ! !
• No Taxis
• Only Auto-rickshaws
• Acrimonious behavior is
legendary !!
• Did not exploit or
overcharge
• Very helpful

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What went well

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 Collaboration

Religious rituals

Food quality &

service
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 Decoration

Transportation

Beautician

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Best Practices & Learnings

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Leadership or Core team

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Fall back plans

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PLAN PLAN and PLAN

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Selecting suppliers

Minimum 3

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A Theoretical Construct

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Crisis Management Control Model

Potential
Basic
Problem Assessment
Knowledge
Analysis
Alarm /
Event

Crisis Implement
Resolution Tactics

Adapted from (3) Sawle S, Crisis Project Management

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Conclusions

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Example - crisis project resulting from an emergency

PLAN PLAN and PLAN

Create Fall back plans as a routine

Practice - Informal change management

Key pre-requisites
• Flexibility , Agility , Collaboration

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 References
(1) PMBOK® - The Guide to the Project Management Body Of Knowledge - 5th Edn
Project Management Institute 14 Campus Boulevard Newtown Square, PA
19073-3299 USA www.pmi.org
(2) Wikipedia :https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_South_Indian_floods
(3) Sawle S, Crisis Project Management http://www.pmi.org/learning/crisis-control-
model-avoid-disasters-5185 Project Management Institute 14 Campus Boulevard
Newtown Square, PA 19073-3299 USA www.pmi.org
(4) Lighthouse readiness group : The Difference Between a Crisis, Emergency, and
Disaster http://lighthousereadiness.com/lrg/difference-crisis-emergency-disaster/
(5) http://pmworldlibrary.net/article/our-daughters-wedding/

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Acknowledgement
Subhashini N Rao is a Senior Teacher &
Head of Dept of English at P S Senior
Secondary School, Chennai. She has 30
years of teaching experience in schools
in India and the Middle East.

Though formally not trained or certified

in project management, she followed
many of the principles in planning and
executing the wedding.

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 Raju N Rao

rao.raju@gmail.com
1- 551-226-2558 / 91-9884188171
www.xtraplus.co.in

Thank You
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