Publications
Publications
- March 2011
- HBS Case Collection
Terror at the Taj Bombay: Customer-Centric Leadership
By: Rohit Deshpande
Abstract
On November 26, 2008, heavily armed terrorists launched a series of attacks throughout the western-Indian city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay). One of the locations attacked was the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, which was occupied by the terrorists for over three days, resulting in the deaths of 34 people and 28 people injured. However, the Taj received praise in the aftermath of the attacks for the selfless actions of the staff in placing the safety of the hotel's guests before their own and working to save the lives of its guests. This case seeks to address how leaders develop a customer-centric organization, as well as how an organization saves its flagship brand after a crisis.
Keywords
Safety; Leadership; National Security; Service Delivery; Organizational Culture; Crisis Management; Customer Focus and Relationships; Brands and Branding; Accommodations Industry; Mumbai
Citation
Deshpande, Rohit. "Terror at the Taj Bombay: Customer-Centric Leadership." Harvard Business School Multimedia/Video Case 511-703, March 2011.