After retiring from industry, I was appointed as a professor at NYU, where I taught supply chain management for over ten years.  I also taught a Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) course to managers in major corporations. I was thus able to see first-hand how corporations monitored their supply chains, and contrast it with how we taught the subject. I found there was a considerable dichotomy between the field practices and academic precepts.

Since 2017, our country has dealt with numerous unprecedented disasters, including a global pandemic. These catastrophes have had the positive effect of inspiring businesses to intensify their disaster preparation and humanitarian efforts. At the same time, they have increased the possibility that companies will want a break from that level of vigilance and selflessness once things return to normal. Now is the time to adopt best practices that will help offset the dangers of disaster ennui and compassion fatigue.