Navigating the Storm: Business Resilience in the Age of Climate Change

The 21st century has earned the tragic sobriquet “The Century of Disasters” due to the escalating frequency, complexity, and severity of both natural and human-made calamities. Climate change, marked by an increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, necessitates a paradigm shift for businesses operations, urging a transition from reactive to proactive and resilient strategies. Research in this area has become crucial, offering organizations vital insights to better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of future disasters. This chapter delves into the multifaceted impact of natural disasters on businesses, exploring how different disciplines are rising to meet these unique challenges. Key findings emphasize the need for flexible supply chains, robust disaster preparedness, and innovative financing mechanisms to mitigate risks and ensure business continuity. As the business landscape becomes increasingly shaped by the realities of disaster risk, it is clear that an interdisciplinary approach is essential. This chapter offers insights from the convergence of literature from Operations Management, Finance, Marketing, and Information Systems. Together, these findings offer a comprehensive framework for understanding and mitigating the complex challenges that disasters present. Pertinently, this chapter explores the burgeoning field of IS in disaster management, highlighting its critical role in saving lives, protecting assets, and building more resilient communities. While this discourse demonstrates the growing importance of IS in disaster management, a number of critical questions remain unanswered. These pave the way for future research opportunities, which are presented at the conclusion of this chapter.