Course content
This course examines the concept of organisational resilience through the lens of Ukraine's unique history — from the COVID-19 pandemic to four years of full-scale war. This turbulent context provides a rare opportunity to study how organisations sustain themselves, adapt and transform in the face of prolonged uncertainty and challenges. By combining theoretical foundations with empirical research, students will gain an academically rigorous yet practice-oriented understanding of organizational resilience that is relevant not only in times of crisis but also for building future-proofing organizations.
The course is based on a combination of lectures, case discussions and guest sessions. Lectures provide conceptual foundations and global perspectives on resilience; case studies and guest lectures illustrate how Ukrainian enterprises across diverse sectors have developed their resilience capabilities and adapted their management approaches. The pedagogical approach emphasises active participation, critical thinking and cross-sectoral learning.
Key topics:
- The structure of organizational resilience – frameworks for assessment and dimensions such as purpose, innovation, adaptability, stakeholder engagement, and leadership.
- The nature of Ukrainian resilience – historical, cultural, and institutional factors shaping organizational and societal resilience.
- Transformation of the mindsets and resilience strategies – how approaches have evolved in response to the challenges of war and global transformations since 2019.
- Leadership and organizational culture under pressure – the role of values, communication, innovation/digitalization and team cohesion in sustaining resilience.
- Case studies of Ukrainian businesses – analysis of resilience practices across IT, agriculture, retail, finance, and industrial sectors.
- Global lessons and future outlook – what international management and policy communities can learn from the Ukrainian experience of resilience.
See course description in course catalogue