Author Identifier (ORCID)
Andrei A. Lux: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3454-946X
Tim Bentley: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4721-8405
Michelle Striepe: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0216-5805
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 significantly impacted Australia’s resources sector, particularly mining, oil, and gas industries, posing challenges for operational leaders. This study applied Adaptive Crisis Management Theory (ACMT) to understand how these leaders adapted during the crisis. Through interviews with 32 operational leaders, it was found that their roles evolved as crisis demands changed. Initially, they addressed immediate needs, then shifted focus to remote work facilitation and digital transformation, and finally emphasised recovery, trust, and resilience. These adaptations influenced leaders’ behaviours, highlighting the importance of flexibility in supporting employee wellbeing and organisational continuity during crises.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2025
Volume
31
Issue
4
Publication Title
Journal of Management & Organization
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
School
School of Business and Law
RAS ID
72711
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
First Page
1909
Last Page
1933
Comments
Ajith, M. M., Lux, A. A., Bentley, T., & Striepe, M. (2025). Adaptive crisis management at the operational level: Responses to COVID-19 in the Australian resources sector. Journal of Management & Organization, 31(4), 1909-1933. https://doi.org/10.1017/jmo.2024.62