While concerns about a generalized second spike in Coronavirus infections persist, we see reasons for optimism. Although infections are still on the rise in some parts of the world, the number of patients in ICUs and actual deaths due to Covid have fallen steadily, as shown in the smart infographic posted by Our World in Data.

There are no grounds for complacency, yet it is reasonable to assume that the world will continue to open up during the coming months. 

 

For those of us planning the 2020 program, the ongoing Covid-19 crisis holds the additional significance of a leadership case study in the making. It offers a “living lab” to study good and bad practice in crisis and change management, how big decisions are made under high uncertainty – especially ones that must balance complex human, social and political risks. At the same time the crisis sharply demonstrates the perils of expecting science to provide all the answers and of overreliance on data-driven approaches.

 

Too often technocracy steps in when leadership is incapable of sound judgement, common sense, and a cross-disciplinary perspective. On the assumption that the virus will not disappear any time soon, our interconnected societies must collectively find ways to #LiveWithTheVirus (a hashtag making its way on social media). We cannot pit the economy and business on one side against the protection of lives but must simultaneously strengthen both – livelihoods are essential to lives.

 

As we stressed in our previous letter, the in person experience remains at the core of the Drucker Forum 2020. To ensure social distancing, we will use less than half the seating capacity of the Vienna Hofburg Palace. Full plenary audiences will only be convened for the opening and closing sessions and for the Clayton Christensen memorial event to be held on October 29 evening.

 

Registration is now open – and we are gratified to see strong early demand for the executive package. This combines the pre-conference afternoon and speakers‘ reception on October 28 with the first conference day on October 29, including networking buffet and evening session. With capacity limited to 100 places for the afternoon session and much of that already taken, we advise immediate booking for those intending to take up this offer. Capacity is still available for the main conference on October 29 and 30.