Publications
Publications
- February 2022
- HBS Case Collection
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi: Leading Through the Fog of the COVID-19 Pandemic
By: Linda A. Hill and Emily Tedards
Abstract
As COVID-19 began to take lives, destroy healthcare systems, and shut down economies across the globe, Dr. Rakesh Suri, Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and his executive team adapted their leadership to instill the new levels of agility and innovation required for the hospital to meet the demands of the pandemic. Collaboration across their local ecosystem and the broader Cleveland Clinic enterprise was paramount.
In the midst of the pandemic, Dr. Suri confronted his toughest leadership challenge yet—having to lead the hospital from travel-related quarantine. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s business plan, staffing plan, supply procurement, budget, and key performance indicators (KPIs) had gone out the window. In addition, the U.A.E. government had restricted all travel to and from the U.A.E., so Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi had become the only center in the country for a range of emergency procedures. The executive team was now considering how to reformulate their performance scorecards to reflect how the hospital’s mix of services would have to evolve as a result of the pandemic and its aftermath. Dr. Suri was due to discuss the new metrics with his team upon his return to the hospital from quarantine.
In the midst of the pandemic, Dr. Suri confronted his toughest leadership challenge yet—having to lead the hospital from travel-related quarantine. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s business plan, staffing plan, supply procurement, budget, and key performance indicators (KPIs) had gone out the window. In addition, the U.A.E. government had restricted all travel to and from the U.A.E., so Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi had become the only center in the country for a range of emergency procedures. The executive team was now considering how to reformulate their performance scorecards to reflect how the hospital’s mix of services would have to evolve as a result of the pandemic and its aftermath. Dr. Suri was due to discuss the new metrics with his team upon his return to the hospital from quarantine.
Keywords
Organizational Behavior; Culture; Organizational Culture; Organizational Adaptation; Organizational Effectiveness; Alignment; Leadership; Innovation; Diversity; Collaboration; Co-creation; Learning Organizations; Empowerment; Teamwork; Ecosystem; Agility; Partnerships; Data-driven Decision-making; Operating Model; Risk Management; Virtual Work; Team Dynamics; Telemedicine; Metrics; Globalization; Pandemic; COVID-19; Hospital; Healthcare; United Arab Emirates; Middle East; Health Care and Treatment; Health Pandemics; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Crisis Management; Leading Change; Leadership Style; Digital Transformation; United Arab Emirates; Middle East
Citation
Hill, Linda A., and Emily Tedards. "Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi: Leading Through the Fog of the COVID-19 Pandemic." Harvard Business School Case 422-057, February 2022.