Reference no: EM133248332

Culture in a Crisis

Extreme challenges and adversity can bring out the best in a group of human beings. This is especially true of the 33 miners who fell victim to a mine collapse in Chile in 2010. They survived an astonishing 69 days underground before they were all safely rescued. As a means of survival, the 33 organized their own democracy. Leaders were assigned to manage the group, facilitate food rationing, lead prayer, monitor health, organize communication with rescuers, and facilitate public relations with family and the outside world. All 33 miners had a vote in decisions that were made as they patiently waited to be rescued. Their survival can be directly attributed to the organizational culture they created for themselves in a crisis.

1. What lessons can be learned in business from a crisis like the Chilean mine collapse?
2. Identify a company that has survived its own challenges. What similarities are there in organizational culture between that company and the miners?
3. Identify a company that has not survived challenging times. What could they have learned from the miners and their rescuers?