IT'S A PANDEMIC! AND NOW? THE SPRINGFIELD STATE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Abstract

This teaching case describes how an unexpected situation affects the decision-making process within public organizations, which in this case situation, occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing a scenario composed of factors that influence the decision-making and the evaluation of managers when facing conflicting interests around a health crisis. In the case in question, the pandemic context placed the public manager before complex decisions: on one side were the economic interests defended by the Federal Government and the business class; on the other side were the groups (scientists, society, social movements) that defended social isolation and restrictions as effective measures against the spread of COVID-19. The educational objective is to encourage a discussion and develop students' analytical capacity on decisions in public management, focusing on the bounded rationality approach and the moral dimension in the decision-making process.

Keywords

• covid-19
• tomada de decisão
• gestor público