Adapting to challenges

: Sanner’s strategic journey through a period of crises

Abstract

This dissertation examines the adaptive strategies introduced by the Sanner Group during a period of crises, including the climate crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian war, which illustrates the growing impact of such crises on corporate strategy development. Following a pedagogical research approach, the constructed case study examines how Sanner, global market leader for desiccant closures and effervescent tablet packaging, adapted to changing environments by exploiting dynamic capabilities. Extensive research was conducted to analyse the impact of the crises on the business and its strategic responses. Additional evidence was gathered through interviews with the company's management team, which offered insights into the internal processes driving adaptive strategies. The teaching notes provide a structured proposal for effective knowledge transfer, enabling instructors to enhance students' understanding of related theoretical concepts through application to the case example. The findings indicate that Sanner effectively recognized and interpreted external developments by continuously monitoring the macroeconomic environment. Based on this, the company was able to take timely strategic action and leverage valuable resources and capabilities, facilitated by its organizational adaptability. As a result, Sanner not only managed the immediate crises successfully, but also engaged in a strategic renewal, which improved the company's resilience and competitiveness. The work thus highlights the critical role of dynamic capabilities in mitigating the adverse effects of crises and achieving long-term organizational success.

Date of Award	3 Feb 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Nuno Cardeal (Supervisor)