Airbnb During the Covid Pandemic: Management and Challenges

Case Study on Airbnb about Management and Challenges
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Question 1
The managers are Airbnb CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CPO Joe Gebbia, and Airbnb co-founder and CTO Nathan Blecharczyk. All three co-founders are still with the company, with Chesky serving as CEO, Gebbia as Chief Product Officer, and Blecharczyk as Chief Technology Officer. Chesky is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Before Airbnb, he worked as a designer for IDEO and is married to Elvie Chesky, a co-founder of Airbnb. Moreover, Gebbia is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Before Airbnb, he worked as a designer for OXO International and as a consultant for IDEO. He is married to Amanda Gebbia, also an Airbnb co-founder. Blecharczyk is a graduate of Harvard University. Before Airbnb, he worked as a software engineer for Akamai Technologies and Microsoft.[Esty, Benjamin C, and Allison Ciechanover, (2021)]
Question 2
The managers of Airbnb face a complex dilemma. The Covid pandemic has presented them with competing pressures from different stakeholders. For their hosts, many of whom depend on income from Airbnb to make ends meet, the company's continued support is crucial. However, critics argue that Airbnb is exacerbating the pandemic by facilitating travel and lodging at a time when many are advised to stay home. This situation raises difficult questions for the managers of Airbnb. Should they prioritize the needs of their hosts, or should they take measures to address the concerns of critics? It is not easy, as either option has potentially adverse consequences. If the company continues to support its hosts, it risks further damaging its reputation if the pandemic worsens. If it instead chooses to distance itself from its hosts, it could lose a significant segment of its customer base. Ultimately, Airbnb's managers must weigh these risks and make a decision, understanding that they cannot control the overall course of the pandemic.[Roelofsen, Maartje, and Claudio Minca, (2021).]
Question 3
While Airbnb had some effective measures to deal with the Covid pandemic, their planning and strategic management could have been better. They had anticipated the possibility of a pandemic and had secured enough cash to weather a potential downturn. They also made strategic changes to their business model to try and increase revenue. Additionally, they communicated proactively with stakeholders, often seen as a critical element of successful crisis management. However, their failure to anticipate the full extent of the pandemic's impact on their business suggests they needed a complete plan. Additionally, they were unprepared for the negative publicity they received, which further complicated their response. Therefore, it is difficult to judge whether Airbnb's planning and strategic management during the pandemic were entirely effective; it seems they had some successes and shortcomings.[(Kolomatsky, Michael, 2021).]
Question 4
The case of this company offers several insights into effective organizational and human resource management. The company's ability to rapidly adapt its business model in response to the pandemic demonstrates agility and respo...