Research at SRM University-AP is always geared to top the solutions that we have to our current problems. One of the most enduring issues in the field of management is crisis management. The PRISM conference has found one of our faculty member’s solution to be most beneficial and awarded him with the Best Paper Presentation Award. Dr Vimal Babu, Associate Professor-SEAMS, has come up with a response that will not only help leaders manage crisis situations with increasing efficiency but also make it possible for them to thrive in the face of adversities.

About the paper:

The purpose of the present research is to understand how global pandemic forces shaped the leadership communication strategies of the managers working in the Information Technology (IT) industry in India, in turn, how their leadership communication strategies aided in achieving agile and authentic leadership communication in relation to their own employees. It studied the leadership communication strategies of managers which facilitated them to establish emotional connect with the employees working remotely during pandemic crisis.

Abstract:

An investigation of the major themes in leadership communication strategies during times of crisis is presented in this research. It applies thematic analysis (TA) as a qualitative method to investigate effective leadership communication strategies in crises to overcome employee-centric organisational issues. Major themes and sub-themes are linked together to grasp better understanding about qualitative data. As a result, a total of five major themes emerged. Findings reveal that HR managers must consider the impact on their employees’ well-being when making verbal communication and crafting messages for their teams during times of crisis. The research developed a conceptual framework for mapping out the major themes, viz. information consumption and news making; disinformation and narrative disruption; agile communication structures; striking the balance b/w humane and factual communication and leadership communication imperatives. The themes generated substantive theory featuring agile and authentic leadership communication for the managers. As organisational leaders, managers’ challenges and communication strategies during a crisis are discussed. Future research ideas are highlighted.

Social Implications:

As a result of this research, it is now possible to deal with crisis communication challenges of managers more effectively. To avoid reacting to disinformation, one must be able to recognise it when it appears in abundance in a short period of time and recognise it when it does not. Managers of the HR department are held in high regard by their employees, who look to them for guidance and support. An agile communication structure, such as clearly stated goals, lean approvals and clarity of purpose will have a big impact upon the designing of communication strategies initiated by organisational leaders, especially when the attempts are made to interact with the employees remotely. That being said, managers need to strike a balance between human and factual communication in order to develop trust, transparency, and cooperation with their employees.

Collaborators:

The present work has been successfully carried out with the contributions of the co-researchers of the research paper, viz. Dr. Anugamini Priya Srivastava, Symbiosis International University, Pune and Mr. Vipin Kumar, Project Management Professional, BT India.

Future:

The future research plans entail working in the area of employee sustainability, well-being and career development of the workforce along with crisis management.

Paari School of Business upholds the importance of connecting business knowledge with hands-on market experience to develop competent candidates with refined managerial skills, ready to tackle the challenges of the business world. Their consistent approach to conducting industrial talks and research invites business giants from across the world to engage in insightful discourse with the students of management. The recent industry talk organised by the school invited a team from Tech Mahindra, the multinational information technology services and consulting company to provide exposure to practical compatibility of their knowledge to the requirements demanded by profession. The talk featured executives from the renowned enterprise addressing students on relevant trends and recent strategies in the market.

Mr Srinivas Reddy, Sr. Recruitment Manager and Vijayawada Location Leader, BFSI & Healthcare and Life Science’s Pan India Recruitment Leader held an engaging talk on the topic, “People Management Influence on IT Industry Business”. Mr Reddy highlighted how to connect with industry professionals and the influence of business networks in the IT business. He also discussed the importance of connecting business knowledge with the technical domain. Mr Kalyan Yelisetty, Manager – Product Development and Testing operations, also addressed the students in the evolving trends in the field of product development and testing in his lecture on “Developing products for the 21st century”. The Industry talk also threw light upon placement opportunities for business students.

The Industry talks and lectures aim at assisting students in aligning themselves with the latest requirements of the industry and sharpening their business acumen with expert discourses on pertinent topics related to the field. The Paari School of Business manifests this vision and upholds the need for bridging the gap between business management and technological advancements.