The Response To COVID-19 Pandemic by Companies
Introduction
The COVID-19 disease is a globally recognized pandemic that has led to many impacts in the corporate world has been affected immensely by the epidemic. Owing to the nature of the spread of COVID-19, which is through personal contact, it has significantly affected human interaction. Thus a lot of strategies in the business field have been affected. COVID-19 has led to the drifting of trust in countries that are related kindly in terms of business and other infrastructures. (Bartik et al.,2020) Thus, bringing out wrangles between counties that allies in the industry, thus economic confrontations. This paper will critically analyze how different companies respond to the global pandemic of COVID-19 and the various strategies the companies have used in their operations, even amidst the worldwide epidemic.
COVID-19 is a disease of an Asian origin that has been spreading globally. The spread of the disease that is majorly from personal contact with an infected person or contact with a contaminated surface. Thus, the illness’s nature has discouraged individuals’ contact and has significantly affected the routine practice of different businesses (Bartik et al.,2020). Therefore, since the customary practices are affected by the pandemic, companies and corporates have strategized methods to do their operations, taking precautions that may prevent further spread of the disease.
Moreover, as the companies and the corporates strategize on the various methods they can affect to proceed with their operations communication aspect is a significant factor of consideration since personal contact had to be limited due to the spreading of the disease. Also, owing to the nature of the disease, traveling was restricted in most countries (Bartik et al.,2020). Thus, the means of supplying and goods reception has been significantly interfered with. Therefore, the companies involved directly with such services had to figure a way of getting supplies from other sources. Labor forces are also another significant factor that has been affected by COVID-19 pandemic.
The disease is spread through personal contact and contact with contaminated surfaces. The companies were pushed to the fact of reviewing the number of employees due to the social distancing factor that also arose. In the COVID-19 pandemic era, companies cannot overlook the labor force factor; some employees in companies have been declared redundant or termination of their services. Other companies were forced to urge their employees to work from their residence to enhance the individual social distance that is required. As a result of the companies’ adjustments in the COVID-19 era, there is a significant change in the economic world that has been realized (Bartik et al.,2020). Therefore, the companies have been trying to effect numerous changes and strategies to salvage the economy and their operations
Since the pandemic duration is undefined, companies have been strategizing on ways to effect on their mode of operation. Some companies have revolutionized their functioning due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Bartik et al.,2020). Nevertheless, the impact of the epidemic is still evident but a swift change in the companies required to help in the progress of the companies and improve the economy’s surge as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussion
The COCA-COLA Company Response To COVID-19
The Coca-Cola Company is an international company that mainly deals with beverage production. The company primarily ventures in the manufacture, marketing, and retailing of non-alcoholic drinks. Owing to the nature of the company’s activities, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted and diversified the functionality in the company and the company’s product consumer at large. The beverages produced by the Coca-Cola company are consumed by over 200 countries globally (White et al.,2020). Therefore, also owing to the networking nature and the supply of the beverage by the Coca-Cola company, it is evident that the pandemic has diversified the operations of the company in the following ways:
Ensuring safety to their employees
The first primary operational response to COVID-19 in the Coca-Cola company was that its management had to ensure safety in terms of the health of all its employees in different categories. The company enforced safety precautions to all its employees from the retailers to the distributors and the production team (White et al.,2020). The Coca-Cola company ensured that all directives from the health authority had been strictly affected at all costs.
The Coca-Cola Company also effected the principles of ensuring the safety of the products and even the production process. The company immediately the pandemic struck began to take extra precaution in the production process of the beverages instance the company affected additional sanitization and cleaning measures in their premises that are on the surfaces and in the packaging in production (White et al.,2020). Also, the Coca-Cola company, in their attempt to safeguard their production implemented a restriction plan for visitors to all their premises as a response to COVID-19.
Another essential aspect that the Coca-Cola company took into consideration as a managerial response to COVID-19 is the reduction of gatherings in their working areas by encouraging some of its workers to work remotely. Thus, remote working is a useful managerial response since depopulating the working premises and only leaving few vital services providers in the company help reduce the physical distancing among the employees (Bartik et al.,2020). In line with an attempt to affect the social distance, the company also canceled and re-scheduled most of the travel, both local and international.
Ensuring the safety of their products and services
The Coca-Cola company management has also been ensuring the safety of direct customer services. The company has assured that since the COVID-19 outbreak, the product delivery is safe to all the outlets and the specific consumer. The Coca-Cola company also in ensuring the safety of the product considered the safety of its employees who are involved in the delivery process of the product (Knowles et al.,2020). Thus, the Coca-Cola company provides the product’s supply to the market and considers the individuals involved in the supply chain and the consumers at large.
Strategies of Coca-Cola Of Helping the Vulnerable in Society
The Coca-Cola company strategies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has not only benefited the employees and consumers of the product but also has significantly impacted on the economy. The Coca-Cola company management has strategized ways of helping the vulnerable in society during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Through its various branches globally, the company has made contributions that include medical supplies and relief food. The support of the community thus is very relevant (White et al.,2020). The Coca-Cola company has allocated resources worth$ 100 million to support the vulnerable in the community during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The response of the management of the Coca-Cola company to COVID-19 is a great success. The novel coronavirus pandemic has encroached in almost all nations of the world at a very alarming rate. Therefore, the management of the company figuring out on how to proceed with the company’s prospects even amidst of the pandemic is very commendable and also ensuring the activities followed the all the health regulations that help in curbing the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus (White et al.,2020). Also, the fact that the Coca-Cola company has gone ahead and given donations to the needy and vulnerable in society is very commendable.
The Success of The Coca-Cola Company in Effecting the Measures
Therefore, the Coca-Cola company has shown great success in its response to COVID-19.the management of the company has successfully identified the various challenges and barriers that have been brought about by the deadly novel coronavirus. The establishment of guidelines in the company that prohibit overcrowding in their premises and avoiding visits. The company’s concern to safeguard its employees’ well-being by guiding them in taking precautions and encouraging them to work remotely is commendable and even success in line with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic (White et al.,2020). The ban on local and international travel in the company is also a success in combating the COVID-19 disease. The precaution of ensuring proper sanitation of all contact places in the company’s premises is also essential in fighting the spread of COVID-19.
The Response of Johnson& Johnson Company To COVID-19
The Jonson and Johnson company mainly specializes in medical supplies and pharmaceutical products. The company also deals with a chain of beauty products and skin products, contact lenses, Tylenol medications, and bright facial wash, among other products. Johnson &Johnson company oversees operations of more than 250 companies that are collectively termed as Johnson& Johnson companies (Crick& Crick, 2020). The companies specialize in pharmaceutical products, medical supplies, and consumer healthcare.
The Vaccine Development Funds
Johnson & Johnson’s company’s management strategized ways to respond to the COVID-19 as one of its ways the company set aside $ 1 billion to respond to the pandemic. Johnson & Johnson company set aside the funds to aid in developing a vaccine to the curb novel coronavirus (Johnson & Vinetz (2020). The company aims to produce a non-profit vaccine that will help curb the COVID-19 pandemic. The resources and the workforce that the company oriented to make the vaccine. Through collaborations with other institutions, the company is researching a suitable vaccine that will help control the spread of COVID-19(Crick& Crick, 2020). The fund allocation for the vaccine discovery includes the funding of the clinical trial that will help determine the vaccine’s proficiency. The company aims at using human clinical trials that are set to begin once the first clinical trial goes through.
Ensuring Continuity in The Supply Chain
The Johnson& Johnson company supply chain management also has to find a suitable response to the sudden global pandemic’s emergence. Supply chain management has tried to respond usefully to the increase in demand for the production of the medical supplies vital at the moment in curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Owing to the nature of the pandemic that is medical nature and Johnson & Johnson company mainly deals with the supplies pharmaceuticals and medicinal products, it is definite that demand of the supplies steadily increased ad a result of the pandemic (Crick& Crick, 2020). The company has ensured a steady supply of their products to the product’s consumers globally. The company has owed the commitment and efficiency in service delivery to its dedicated employees. They are working tirelessly to meet the rising demand for the products in the pandemic era.
Johnson and Johnson’s supply of medical and pharmaceutical products have frequently been affected due to the pandemic nature as it spreads from personal contact. Thus, the company’s management deliberated and found a solution to the safe delivery process of the medical supplies to the consumer by ensuring the safety of its employees who directly participated in the pharmaceutical’s distribution (Knowles et al.,2020). The company has effected the necessary precautions directed by health authorities to ensure its employees’ safety in the products’ handling process. The company has also put in measures in regards to traveling.
Ensuring the safety of the workers
The Johnson& Johnson company, in their prospect of ensuring safety in all their working premises and their employees’ safety, has strategized ways to counter the spread of the novel coronavirus. Some of the measures the company has effected are strict general hygiene in the working areas. The company’s management has caused sanitation standards on all contact places and established sanitation booths at the point of entry of the premises (Mohler et al.,2020). Moreover, the company has also increased the hand sanitizers at distinct locations, even in an attempt to minimize overpopulation in their premises the company’s management has improved on social distancing in all the meting facilities like the conference rooms so that close personal contact is decreased in the company at all cost.
Moreover, in an attempt to ensure a steady supply of the products in the market, the company saw the need for progressing with the transportation of the company’s quantities. However, necessary precautions were considered, like fumigation of the transport vehicles and proper sanitation regulations to the drivers and passengers (Mohler et al.,2020). The restriction of the number of people who engage in the supply chain was also an essential aspect that the company considered limiting the spread of COVID-19 disease(Chase, 2020). The continuity of the company’s supplies is necessary considering that the pandemic is health-related; thus, the customers of the company require a constant amount of medical supplies.
Effecting Measures of Restriction
Nonetheless, the company has set aside measures to detect extreme temperature and flu-like symptoms. The company in all of its branches countrywide has deployed equipment like thermo-guns and deployed personnel at the entry points of their premises to identify persons who exhibit a usual activity of extremely high body temperatures and flu-related signs to advise them on quarantine or self-isolation techniques (Knowles et al.,2020). Also, the company realized methods of equipping its employees, especially those who work or deliver supplies in high-risk areas or areas that have reported a significantly high number of cases of the COVID-19 disease.
The Jonson &Johnson company management has to ensure a steady supply of the medical supply to its clients, especially products that treat fever-related issues. No vaccine or drug to the COVID- 19 diseases have been identified (Knowles et al.,2020). Also, the company has strategized to improve the efficiency of service provision, especially in emergency conditions. Also, the Johnson& Johnson company has ensured that all its branches and services providers are available 24 hours a day to maximize their availability and effectiveness in their service delivery.
Thus, the Johnson& Johnson company has strategized various ways of giving back to the community by providing extra services like the 24-hour operation in their service delivery. (Chase, 2020). Ensure the maximization of the availability of the company’s facilities in all the branches and in maximum time. Quick response to emergency services, the company has shown clear strategies in the establishment of its plans such that at no given point can a client can lack the company( Knowles et al .,2020).
Moreover, the maximal availability of products like Tylenol, among other essential products required in the pandemic era, has increased. The safe delivery of the products to various destinations have been reassured. The handling process of the multiple products has been put in place.
Reassuring quality of the products
The Johnson& Johnson company’s management has also strategized ways to reassure the ultimate consumer of the product of quality and safe deliveries. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, most clients may end up doubting the safety of any product. Owing to the fact of nature and the method of spreading of the novel coronavirus, clients of any supplies company may tend to doubt any supply methods of the products or any contaminations (Knowles et al.,2020). .Therefore Johnson& Johnson company has reassured all its clients of safety in their supply system through the various communication channels, especially on social media platforms.
Also, the Johnson& Johnson company has been of crucial importance in supporting the community mainly by supporting the healthcare workers who have been front liners in the battle against the novel coronavirus. The healthcare workers are putting their lives on the line in an attempt to fight and curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (Knowles et al .,2020). Therefore, the Johnson& Johnson company provides the much-needed help of medical supplies to the healthcare workers. In response to supporting the healthcare workers, the company has recently contributed$ 50 million to provide meals to the healthcare workers (Chase, 2020). Also, the response team to COVID-19 in the company has allocated funding of $ 250 million to distribute the medical supplies to the healthcare workers in different health facilities globally.
The Company Success Rate of Johnson& Johnson Company On COVID-19
In an attempt of evaluating the success of the Johnson& Johnson company success rate in their response to COVID-19operations, it is essential to note that all the companies in the world in the business and profit-making industries had to adapt and transform swiftly to curb the effects and the spread of the coronavirus( Knowles et al .,2020). The Johnson& Johnson company has successfully implemented the measures of the range of the novel coronavirus by the various sanitation measures they have effected in all their premises(Chase, 2020). The strategies of taking the precautions and the criteria stipulated were also successful in the Johnson& Johnson company. The company ensuring a steady and safe supply of its product during the pandemic was also a considerable success measure.
However, the success of progress in the attempt to make a non-profit vaccine for the virus is yet to be examined since the procedure is still in progress. The struggle and the clinical trials to be conducted by the company in the process of vaccine production can be reviewed at the final stages of the vaccine making, especially in the human trial stage. Nevertheless, the management’s effort to respond even in setting aside $1 billion for the vaccine formulation is an essential aspect of response demonstrated by the Johnson& Johnson company (Johnson & Vinetz (2020). Since the pandemic was sudden and unexpected, outsourcing such funds in response to curbing the spread of the epidemic shows an adequate preparation by the company’s management.
The Johnson& Johnson company has shown an excellent success rate in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is an increase in demand for the medical supplies and the pharmaceuticals produced by the company (Chase, 2020). Amidst the COVID-19 epidemic, the company has managed to convince its customers of the safety of their supplies and the mode of delivery, thus ensuring safety and no contamination of the products.
Moreover, apart from the direct contributions and success of the Johnson &Johnson company in curbing the pandemic, the company has also successfully been impactful in the community by providing a donation to the healthcare service providers is a great success that the company has adopted in controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus(Chase, 2020). The successful contribution of $ 50 million for meals to the healthcare workers shows a significant success rate in the company in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the allocation of $ 250 million for supplies in the healthcare facilities is a positive response of the company to curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Summary
In summary, the COVID-19 pandemic is a global pandemic that led to companies’ diversification and cooperative impairment of activities. Various companies have realized different operational strategies to manage the spread of COVID-19 and proceed with their operations, among them are the Coca-Cola company and the Johnson& Johnson company (Chase, 2020). The companies in their distinct varied ways have developed strategies and measures that have been deployed, and some are underway to ensure that their operations still progress even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic era.
The nature of COVID-19 spread is very creepy and thus may counter many activities in the industries. Therefore, companies’ response to the impact of COVID-19 economically should not overlook the direct effects of the novel coronavirus to the health of the employees of any given company. Every company to successfully respond to the impacts of COVID-19 should also consider the direct health impact (Chase, 2020). Companies that desire to proceed with their operations in the era of the novel corona should adopt proper sanitation measures that are in all their premises.
Also, the companies should implement measures that reinforce social distancing to avoid overcrowding of persons or employees in specific places to prevent the coronavirus spread. The establishment of standards will lead to a successful and smooth operation in various businesses. Otherwise, overlooking the restrictions by the companies may expose the companies to the danger of the spread of the virus and, thus, the failure of the company’s progress (Chase, 2020). For instance, if a company overlooks the enforcement of the safety measures and most of its employees are infected with the company’s COVID-19 disease operations, it may come to a halt and negatively impact the welfare and economic progress of the company.
Another significant preparation of the COVID-19 is the fund allocation to respond to the pandemic. A clear illustration is the donations from Coca-Cola and the Johnson& Johnson company to the community in aid of the healthcare workers and the vulnerable in the community. The two companies have successfully shown the urgency of keeping funds for an emergency of a pandemic in a company.
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