Fast Response to Superspreading: Uncertainty and Complexity in the Context of COVID-19

Lukas Zenk, Gerald Steiner, Miguel Pina e Cunha, Manfred D. Laubichler, Martin Bertau, Martin J. Kainz, Carlo Jäger and Eva S. Schernhammer
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Lukas Zenk: Department of Knowledge and Communication Management, Faculty of Business and Globalization, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
Gerald Steiner: Department of Knowledge and Communication Management, Faculty of Business and Globalization, Danube University Krems, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
Miguel Pina e Cunha: Nova School of Business and Economics, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2775-405 Carcavelos, Portugal
Manfred D. Laubichler: Complexity Science Hub Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Martin Bertau: Institute of Chemical Technology, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
Martin J. Kainz: WasserCluster Lunz-Inter-University Center for Aquatic Ecosystem Research, 3293 Lunz am See, Austria
Carlo Jäger: Complexity Science Hub Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Eva S. Schernhammer: Complexity Science Hub Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: Although the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wave has peaked with the second wave underway, the world is still struggling to manage potential systemic risks and unpredictability of the pandemic. A particular challenge is the “superspreading” of the virus, which starts abruptly, is difficult to predict, and can quickly escalate into medical and socio-economic emergencies that contribute to long-lasting crises challenging our current ways of life. In these uncertain times, organizations and societies worldwide are faced with the need to develop appropriate strategies and intervention portfolios that require fast understanding of the complex interdependencies in our world and rapid, flexible action to contain the spread of the virus as quickly as possible, thus preventing further disastrous consequences of the pandemic. We integrate perspectives from systems sciences, epidemiology, biology, social networks, and organizational research in the context of the superspreading phenomenon to understand the complex system of COVID-19 pandemic and develop suggestions for interventions aimed at rapid responses.

Keywords: complex systems; COVID-19; superspreading; networks; fast response; improvisation; interdisciplinary perspectives; transdisciplinarity; SARS-CoV-2; pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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