Journal of Advanced Research in Leadership

Bank Crisis Management Strategies for Leveraging Effective Performance of the Barbados’ Banking Institutions in Times of Crisis

Jennifer Davis — 2024-01-18

Given a series of turbulences and disruptions that most of the financial institutions in the Caribbean faced in recent years as a result of the 2008 financial crisis, Hurricane Dora, Covid-19 and now the Russia-Ukraine War that induced energy shortages and inflation, this study uses integrative review to evaluate bank crisis management strategies that can be adopted for leveraging effective performance of the Barbados’ banking institutions in times of crisis. To accomplish that, the integrative review of different studies was structured according to five steps encompassing the designation of integrative review objectives and questions, literature search, inclusion/exclusion criteria, quality assessment and data synthesis. In crisis times like during Covid-19, outcomes of integrative review indicated the Covid-19’s devastating effects on the performance of most of the banking institutions in Barbados to have been reflected in the declining deposits/savings, new clients' borrowings and loan repayments. Covid-19 also instigated an increment of non-performing loans and the bank’s market disconnectedness, whilst also undermining the implementation of growth-improvement plans and strategies. As profitability and liquidity crises set in, findings revealed Covid-19 to have disrupted the bank’s seamless operations, as declining bank personnel’s morale, motivation and commitment also affected their performance. To improve the banks' future resilience, most of the reviewed theories and literature proposed the best bank crisis management strategies like the adoption of contingency planning to improve the bank’s future resilience. Besides dedication of reserve resources for managing and mitigating the disruptive effects of unpredicted events, others suggested the essence for the encouragement of a culture of change, flexibility and agility. However, some of the reviewed studies argued that no best bank crisis management practices and strategies emerged from Covid-19 crisis management that can be replicated for managing such similar complex crises in the future. This implies as the banks were significantly overwhelmed by the Covid-19 shocks, it was not practically possible for them to think and rethink to emerge with the immediate best bank crisis management strategies that can be emulated going into the future. Since this suggests most of the banking institutions in Barbados must still explore the best crisis management strategies that can be adopted to improve the banks’ future resilience to withstand all shocks, the study concludes with the suggestion of the Systematic Bank Crisis Management Framework that the banks can adopt going into the future.

Cognitive Agility and Mental Resilience: Preparing Leaders for Future Challenges

Yvette Rose — 2024-01-18

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) continues to prepare for conflict. A mixed method study explored leaders’ perception of cognitive agility and mental resilience preparedness for future challenges in planning, mission execution, and decision making. An online survey and in-person interviews addressed two research questions (RQ); What are the perceptions of leader preparedness to exercise cognitive agility and mental resilience for future challenges? What impact might a focused Decision Forcing Case (DFC) have on preparing leaders to exercise cognitive agility and mental resilience in planning, mission execution, and decision making for future challenges? Thematic coding of the data formed the literature themes and shaped a theoretical framework. Data analysis results identified three key points; Refine instruction to develop proactive, agile thinking leaders, increase confidence to prepare Marines to be proactive in uncertain and ambiguous environments, and be diligent with recommended revisions to curriculum design and implementations of educative approaches to best prepare leaders for future challenges. A summary of the findings discussed three future implications for designing education and training; Ensure leaders understand and exercise cognitive agility and mental resilience, develop courses and practical exercises focused on preparation for future conflict, and research, create, and incorporate focused DFCs, Tactical Decision Games (TDG), and Kriegspiels (KS) to evaluate and elevate Marines’ cognitive agility and mental resilience in planning, mission execution, and decision making for future challenges. Conclusively data supports leaders’ plans to develop and deliver deliberate curriculum to prepare leaders for 21^st conflict.

Integrating Ethos into Resilient Change Facilitation in Ukrainian Realia

Dzvenyslava Novakivska — 2023-11-29

Purpose. This viewpoint paper explores the practice of change facilitation, aiming to unveil how societies can nurture resilience in the face of imminent challenges. It synthesizes Ukrainian real-life experiences, revealing the principles behind various facilitation approaches to fostering resilient change in demanding contexts. Methodology. The study's methodology entails the synthesis and conceptualization of diverse professional experiences in Ukrainian realia, unravelling the underlying ethos behind various change facilitation approaches. By integrating these insights into broader perspectives and communities of practice, the research aims to offer a holistic perspective on fostering resilient change. Findings. The results section succinctly presents the distilled findings, offering a thought-provoking array of ideas specifically tailored for facilitators operating within high-stakes and extreme-risk and existential environments. Limitations/Implications. Due to the research approach, findings may lack generalizability, necessitating further testing of the presented propositions. Practical Implications. The study concludes by highlighting the potential impact of its professional interpretations on the fields of facilitation and social cohesion. The paper's content encompasses an exploration of facilitation, encompassing Ethos, Logos, and Pathos elements. It highlights the multifaceted role of a facilitator and presents three distinct approaches to implementing change: the knowledge and experience-driven approach, the inspiration-based approach, and the strategy-oriented approach tailored to fragile crisis contexts. Originality/Value. The paper delves into the existential challenges and ethically justified opportunities inherent in adopting the combined approach of facilitation, underlining the nuanced dynamics inherent in resilient change facilitation.