Real-Time Leadership at Fabrinet (A): Navigating through the 2011 Thailand flood crisis

by Homa Bahrami, Stuart Evans
18 Feb 2014

This case (A & B) provides an understanding of the 'real-time' leadership concept. The case examines Fabrinet's preparation in advance the Fall 2011 Thailand floods and the steps it then took to restart manufacturing within three weeks after one of its two Thailand-based plants was deemed inoperable and which had accounted for 40 percent of the company's total production capability. The case also provides an understanding of how Fabrinet's 'leadership DNA' also contributed to the company's ability to navigate through this crisis. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate the 'real-time' leadership abilities of Fabrinet's management team in their handling of this situation. The case ends with several questions, including those asking students to evaluate 'real-time' leadership within their own organization, to identify which of the leadership lessons are most relevant to them, and to contrast 'real-time' leadership with traditional leadership. Please note: This case also has a (B) supplement available.

Learning Objectives

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Provides a case that illustrates the 'real-time' leadership concept as shown by the Fabrinet management team on a day-by-day basis, during the Fall 2011 floods that engulfed Thailand -- the worst flooding to hit that country in over 50 years. Real-time leadership is the capacity to lead in fluid and unpredictable situations, by becoming super-flexible: acting swiftly, being decisive, remaining resilient, juggling priorities, switching gears, and wearing different hats. In today's interconnected world, a myriad of revision triggers, including disruptive technologies, environmental crises, political revolutions, economic recessions, bombard leaders and drive them to manage in the moment,' improvise quickly and deviate from plans. The old game was about planning and predicting the future, the new game is about surfing fluid reality. This case seeks to illustrate the importance of real-time leadership in managing uncertainty; to show how real-time leadership is critical in a crisis; to demonstrate how leadership DNA is critical in a fluid situation; and to describe how 'super-flexibility' can be used as a framework for exercising 'real-time' leadership.

Details

Pub Date: Feb 18, 2014

Discipline: Organizational Behavior

Subjects: Organizational behavior, Crisis management, Global corporate cultures, Decision making, Management styles, Leadership, Risk management, Hiring & employment, Organizational culture, Manufacturing, Suppliers, Collaboration

Product #: B5795-PDF-ENG

Industry: Manufacturing

Geography: Thailand

Length: 17 page(s)