Summary 

War is not just a battlefield event; it profoundly impacts organizations, societies, and individuals, demanding new ways of organizing and managing. In our recent article published in the Journal of Management Studies, we explore war as a phenomenon in management studies, offering a roadmap to analyze its organizational, societal, and policy implications. By understanding the nature of war, its actors, and its contexts, we hope to inspire new solutions for addressing the complexities of conflict. This paper is for anyone seeking actionable insights into managing grand societal challenges. 

Why Study War in Management Studies? 

Wars disrupt lives, economies, and institutions. From the Crusades to the Russo–Ukrainian War, conflicts have shaped history, forcing societies to adapt. Yet, war remains underexplored in management studies, despite its relevance to how organizations operate during crises. Businesses, NGOs, and governments grapple with challenges like supply chain disruptions, refugee flows, and rebuilding efforts.  

Insights Beyond the Battlefield 

Our research integrates scattered discussions about war into a coherent framework that examines three key dimensions: the nature of war, the actors involved, and the surrounding context. This approach allows us to move beyond abstract theories and focus on practical implications for diverse stakeholders. Whether you are a policymaker designing post-conflict recovery programs or an NGO leader managing humanitarian aid, these insights illuminate how organizational strategies can adapt to extreme conditions. 

The Nature of War: A Crisis Like No Other 

War is not just another crisis; it is prolonged, unpredictable, and often morally ambiguous. Unlike natural disasters or financial downturns, wars involve intentional violence, strategic planning, and political objectives. Understanding these unique characteristics helps organizations anticipate long-term disruptions and develop strategies to navigate them. For instance, businesses operating in conflict zones must build resilience by diversifying supply chains and fostering local partnerships. 

The Actors in War: A Complex Ecosystem 

Wars involve a diverse cast of actors, including governments, military forces, private firms, NGOs, and civilians. Each actor brings unique challenges and opportunities. For NGOs, this may mean negotiating with local militias to deliver aid. For businesses, it might involve balancing profit motives with ethical considerations. Our research highlights the diversity and complexity of actors involved in war, including unique entities such as private military companies and non-state armed groups. It also emphasizes the critical importance of collaboration and stakeholder engagement in these high-stakes environments. 

The Context of War: The Power of Place, Time, and Technology 

The context of war—its location, timing, and technological landscape—shapes its progression and impact. For example, advancements in technology, such as drones and artificial intelligence, can redefine how wars are fought and how organizations respond. Policymakers and organizations must consider diverse contextual factors when crafting strategies for conflict zones. 

Why These Insights Matter and Who Can Benefit 

Our findings hold significant implications for a variety of stakeholders: 

1. Management Scholars: Studying war offers a unique opportunity to extend existing theories and generate new ones. By focusing on war’s complexities and effects, we can deepen our understanding of resilience, crisis management, decision-making, and leadership in and through these extreme contexts. 

2. Business Leaders: For organizations, understanding war’s implications is critical for navigating disruptions and uncertainties, and responding to its short- and long-term consequences. Multinational enterprises, in particular, can use these insights to adapt to challenges like supply chain breakdowns, political risks and instability, and stakeholder pressures in conflict zones. 

3. Policymakers and NGOs: Our research underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing war-related challenges, from implementing effective economic sanctions and delivering humanitarian aid to organizing peace and reconstruction initiatives in (former) conflict areas. Management insights can enhance the effectiveness of policies and interventions in war-torn regions.  

4. Society at Large: By addressing war as a grand societal challenge, management research can contribute to mitigating its devastating effects, fostering resilience, and promoting peace. Such efforts strengthen the link between academic research and its contribution to solving humanity’s most pressing problems. 

Actionable Takeaways for Scholars, Leaders, and Policymakers 

Our research offers several practical takeaways for those interested in understanding and acting on the organizational dimensions of war: 

1. Expand Research on War: We encourage management scholars to further explore war’s unique nature and features—such as how violence is organized and how violent conflicts lead to prolonged uncertainty and instability—to gain a deeper understanding of war as a complex social phenomenon and develop theories that address extreme contexts. 

2. Embrace Interdisciplinary Approaches: By collaborating with political scientists, sociologists, and economists, we can analyze war’s broader causes and consequences while focusing on its organizational dimensions and effects. 

3. Prioritize Resilience and Adaptability: Organizations should invest in preparing for future conflicts and in building resilience to navigate the uncertainty of war. This includes effective crisis management systems, ethical decision-making frameworks, and strategies for stakeholder engagement. 

4. Collaborate Across Sectors: Governments, transnational organizations, businesses, and NGOs must coordinate their efforts and work together to address the multifaceted challenges of war, from protecting civilians to rebuilding economies in postwar contexts. 

5. Leverage War as a Research Context: Despite its destructive nature—characterized by suffering, devastation, and death—war provides unique opportunities to study organizational dynamics in high-stakes environments. By examining how actors operate in these extreme and revelatory contexts, we can gain insights not only applicable to other crises and challenges but also relevant to broader organizational issues, such as resource allocation processes and entrepreneurial bricolage. 

A Call to Action 

In conclusion, we believe that war deserves a central place in management research. By studying war, we can uncover new insights into organizational resilience, leadership, and strategy while contributing to broader societal efforts to address one of humanity’s most pressing challenges. For scholars, practitioners, and policymakers alike, this work is a call to action to engage with the complexities of war and its far-reaching implications. Together, we can build a deeper understanding of how organizations navigate extreme environments—and how they can contribute to creating a more resilient and peaceful world.