Case Study

British Petroleum (B): The Deepwater Horizon explosion

3 pages
May 2011
Reference: IMD-3-2181

The B-case highlights some of the changes Hayward had implemented since becoming CEO in 2007. After Hayward announced that BP’s top strategic priorities for 2010 were ongoing cost cutting, production growth and alternative energy, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010, triggering the largest oil spill in history. As the crisis unfolded, BP and Hayward made a number of missteps that angered the residents of the Gulf, environmental groups and politicians, including President Obama.

Learning Objective

Communicating during a crisis, preparing a crisis message strategy.

Keywords
Strategy, Leadership, Crisis Management, General Management
Settings
BP, Materials, Oil and Gas, Energy
2007-2010
Type
Published Sources
Copyright
© 2011
Available Languages
English
Related material
Teaching note
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