Publications
Publications
- January 2021
- HBS Case Collection
Best Buy's Corie Barry: Confronting the COVID-19 Pandemic
By: William W. George and Amram Migdal
Abstract
This case examines the leadership of Corie Barry, the new CEO of Best Buy, with a focus on actions the company took in 2020 to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. The case includes a history of Best Buy’s strategy and leadership, including the transitions between the company’s founder and the subsequent four CEOs. In particular, the career trajectory of CEO Corie Barry is described in detail. Regarding Best Buy’s response to COVID-19, the case details the company’s scenario planning and operational adjustments, including the temporary closure of all stores followed by the rapid establishment of curbside-pickup customer-order-fulfillment operations at roughly 1,000 store locations in the U.S. The case also attends to leadership’s decisions to furlough more than 51,000 frontline employees, suspend in-home services, and subsequently resume in-store services under modified operating procedures.
Keywords
Health Pandemics; Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Leadership; Leadership Development; Leadership Style; Business or Company Management; Crisis Management; Management Succession; Management Teams; Personal Development and Career; Strategic Planning; Problems and Challenges; Safety; Retail Industry
Citation
George, William W., and Amram Migdal. "Best Buy's Corie Barry: Confronting the COVID-19 Pandemic." Harvard Business School Case 321-073, January 2021.
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