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America’s beleaguered health system has remained afloat throughout the coronavirus attack, if only through raw ingenuity.

The global pandemic has exposed serious flaws in supply chains, including critical ones for industries such as pharma and medical supplies. Shortages of personal protective equipment for health workers and ventilators in hospitals are the most prominent ones. To prevent this problem from occurring again when the next disaster strikes, governments should consider establishing a stress test for companies that provide critical goods and services that’s akin to the stress tests for banks that the U.S. government and European Union instituted after the 2008 financial crisis. This test should focus on the resilience of companies’ supply chains.

Converting interested customers into actual buyers is the end goal of any business. From gigantic chain stores to a small mom & pop shop, it all comes down to making that sale. Of course, transforming leads to purchases is usually easier said than done. In today’s competitive business landscape there’s always going to be someone else offering a supposed better deal or cheaper price. 

COVID-19 has upended everything from supply chains and the global economy to how people work. These insights from MIT Sloan Management Review can help guide leaders through uncertain times.