Harvard Business School publishes case study on Cyberabad’s COVID-19 crisis model
Hyderabad: Harvard Business Publishing has published a case study on the Cyberabad COVID-19 crisis model, documenting how police, government, industry and healthcare bodies managed the pandemic.
Indian School of Business (ISB) and Harvard Business Publishing (HBP), through Harvard Business Impact, published the case titled “Operational Excellence in Crisis: Transforming Business Continuity in Cyberabad IT Corridor.”
The case was co-authored by ISB Assistant Professor Vijaya Sunder M, V.C. Sajjanar, IPS, and Diti Joshi. Sajjanar currently serves as Hyderabad Commissioner of Police and previously served as Cyberabad Commissioner.
The case study examines the coordination that helped nearly 800,000 IT and ITES employees shift to work from home within days of the pandemic’s onset.
Cyberabad COVID-19 crisis model focused on business continuity
Under Sajjanar’s leadership, Cyberabad Police worked with the SCSC, government departments, industry and healthcare institutions. As a result, businesses maintained operations across several sectors during the crisis.
The response covered IT, ITES, pharmaceuticals, BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and telecom sectors. The initiative also addressed movement permissions for essential employees and other operational requirements.
SCSC coordinated the COVID Response and Business Continuity framework under the leadership of Dr. Krishna Yedula. The framework included CXO engagement, government advisory dissemination and workplace safety support.
The response also extended beyond business continuity. SCSC operated a COVID Control Room, Oxygen Bank and Oxygen Care Centre during the pandemic.
In addition, teams organised plasma donation drives and distributed food, PPE, medicines and equipment. They also supported frontline police and healthcare workers, migrant workers and affected families.
A single-day vaccination camp at HITEX covered around 38,000 citizens. The effort formed part of the wider humanitarian response during the pandemic.
Case study records public-private response
To mark the publication, Sajjanar and Dr. Krishna Yedula met the core SCSC COVID team on August 8. The meeting recognised members and volunteers who worked with Cyberabad Police, government departments, healthcare institutions and industry during the pandemic.
Prof. Vijaya Sunder M serves as Assistant Professor of Operations Management (Practice) and Programme Director of ISB Executive Education’s Operational Excellence for Leaders Programme. He also serves on the advisory board of ISB’s Executive Fellow Programme in Management and Executive Education.
The case study presents the Cyberabad COVID-19 crisis model as an example of public-private partnership in crisis management. It is expected to serve as a reference for governments, business schools and crisis management professionals.