ed their merged companies 'equipment to hold a virtual pressconference. Other businesses were not as lucky, especially those with high-value, highly perishableproducts such as berries, fresh fish and flowers, and medicines and pharmaceuticals. Africanfarmers, European fresh-produce importers, and flower traders from Kenya to the Netherlandsfound their businesses threatened by the air traffic shutdown. Even manufacturers were affected.For instance, BMW had to scale back work hours and had even prepared for possibly shuttingdown production at its Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant because it depended on trans-Atlanticflights to bring transmissions and other components from German factories by air. A spokespersonat another automobile company, Mercedes-Benz, said, "There has been disruption in our partssupply. We expect that there may be shortages of some parts or delays in some instances" 1. Would goals be useful in this type of situation? What types of goals might amanufacturing company like BMW have in such a situation? How about a global airline?How about a small flower grower in Kenya? 2. What types of plans could companies use in this type of situation? Explain why you thinkthese plans would be important. 3. What lessons about planning managers can learn from this crisis