The Black Swan of the Coronavirus and How American Organizations Have Adapted to the New World of Remote Work

This article presents a look at how leading-edge American companies have adapted to the very changing nature of work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article begins with an examination of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on all of us, placing the pandemic in historical context as a “Black Swan”-level disruptive, historical event. Drawing upon current research, the author examines how the pandemic induced a shift to remote work for many workers, not just in the U.S., but globally, and how that impacted both employees and organizations. Next, the findings of an examination of how major U.S. companies, across many industries, have shifted permanently to offering their employees either full or partial-time remote work options are presented. Based on this research, the author discusses how this change has - and will continue - to impact organizations into the future. The article concludes with a look at the road ahead, as management of all organizations adapts to a very new world of work and a new operating model. To assist and inform managers of how to best make this transition, the author presents an 8-step action plan for implementing remote work into organizations today.

Introduction: Black Swans and Sinatra Inferences

Public mismanagement as a threat to life and limb is a rare and highly improbable phenomenon—the proverbial Black Swan. Bridges and buildings collapse, claiming the lives of people who had every reason to believe that governmental agencies protect their physical integrity through public oversight and maintenance. Properly analyzed, however, these unlikely events reveal causal mechanisms of a general nature, strong enough to trigger fateful mismanagement even under the restrictive conditions of professional bureaucracies and democratic government. Hence the “Sinatra Inference”: When a mechanism is powerful enough ‘to make it there’—i.e., where causal leverage is supposedly low—it is likely to ‘make it everywhere’ as soon as leverage is enlarged by weaker accountability structures, lower professional standards and lesser values than human safety.

Popular indicators of the crisis in financial markets

The article provides an overview of the factors that ensure the growth of the US stock market despite the fact that a number of popular indicators signal the opposite. The dynamics of indicators (Total Market Cap) / GDP, (Total Market Cap) / (GDP + Total Assets of Fed) and P/E, Shiller P/E ratios are presented. According to Buffett’s Total Market Cap / GDP indicator, the stock market is now “significantly overvalued” and the Shiller P/E ratio has surpassed the “Great Depression” period. At the same time, an increase in the amount of money in circulation as a result of the implementation of Quantitative easing (QE) programs of the FRS, inflation risk and a decrease in the profitability of investments in alternative assets (government and corporate bonds) are forcing investors to stay in stocks and continue to build up positions despite the increase risks and a decrease in potential profitability in the future. The growth of the US stock market is also stimulated by the buyback programs of companies and the inflow of foreign capital. In 2020, there was a V-shaped recovery in the economy, and an absolute record for the amount of funds raised was set in the IPO market. Thanks to financial incentives, the stock market will continue to grow even despite the pandemic and overvalued assets, but the notorious “black swan” may become the “trigger” for the start of the crisis in the financial markets.

Boeing: surviving business turbulence after black swan cataclysms

Theoretical basis Capital structure theory. Research methodology The case is meant for teaching and class discussion, and uses only secondary data based on published sources. The interpretation and perspectives presented are based solely on the secondary data. Case overview/synopsis This paper aims to help current and future managers understand capital structure theory and the various equity and debt finance options available for raising capital. It also examines the financial analysis and strategic management of black swan events. After the class discussion, students will understand how to financially and strategically manage a company during black swan events and also have a deep dive into capital structure analysis of a large company. Complexity academic level MBA/postgraduate/undergraduate courses on corporate finance or advanced corporate finance. Executive/management development programs and short duration Massive Open Online Courses on investment decision-making and advanced corporate finance. MBA/postgraduate/undergraduate courses on corporate strategy and economic environment and planning.

Eksperyment somatyczno-dramaturgiczny. Haptyczna wizualność i deziluzyjna dramaturgia w filmie Czarny Łabędź Darrena Aronofsky’ego

Based on the example of Darren Aronofsky’s film Black Swan, the article explores the disillusive potential of interfering with the classic model of film dramaturgy. Referring to the traditional paradigm developed by Syd Field, the author indicates deviations from the conventional narrative that occur in Aronofsky’s film. The text seeks to confirm the thesis that contemporary cinematography exemplifies the trend of abandoning the attempts to create a seemingly referential world. By questioning the fundamental structure of the film’s dramaturgy, Black Swan provides additional interpretive possibilities. However, displaying the constituent elements of a work, for example, by transaccentuating their meaning or changing their place or length of occurrence, is not the most obvious disillusionment strategy. It may in fact remain hidden until the moment of careful analysis.