Crises Unbound: Institutions, Occupational Groups and the Construction of Omnicrises
In this session of the International Business Seminar Series, Prof. Dr. Maxim Voronov discussed omnicrises — large-scale disruptions that cross institutional boundaries and unsettle everyday life. He showed how struggles over expertise influence how these crises grow and how they are resolved, offering new perspectives on resilience and governance in uncertain times.
Omnicrises are large-scale disruptions that cross institutional boundaries, escalate quickly, and reshape social order. Unlike typical crises that remain within a single organization, omnicrises reveal how institutions depend on one another. They unsettle daily life and trigger disputes over authority and expertise.
Prof. Dr. Maxim Voronov’s research develops a framework for understanding omnicrises as institutional phenomena, showing how struggles over expertise among professional groups shape their development and resolution. This work highlights both the fragility and adaptability of institutions, as communities adjust to shifting ideas of normalcy.
Drawing on institutional theory and occupational dynamics, the research deepens understanding of how crises expand into omnicrises and how they are eventually redefined and contained. It sheds light on governance and resilience in an age of uncertainty.
Prof. Dr. Maxim Voronov is a leading scholar in organizational studies, fascinated by how people and organizations drive or resist major changes in society. His research explores the cultural and emotional forces behind change, including the values, stories, and emotions that sustain institutions or inspire movements. He focuses on topics such as authenticity, power, collective action, and organizational and societal responses to crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prof. Voronov’s work has been published or is forthcoming in top journals, including Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management Studies, Harvard Business Review, and Scientific American. He is Senior Editor at Organization Studies and serves on the editorial boards of Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management Studies, and Research in the Sociology of Organizations.