Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.: A Cybersecurity Attack from North Korea (A), (B)

Author
Alexander, M.
Region
North America
Topic
Strategy & General Management
Length
15 pages
Keywords
crisis management
intercultural
International
Technology
distributor delations
Copyright Holder
Notre Dame
Student Price
$4.00
Target Audience
Graduate Students
Undergraduate Students

On November 24, 2014, Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Inc., was the victim of an unprecedented cybersecurity attack launched by North Korean hackers. The attack was a result of the nearing premiere of Sony’s film The Interview, a comedy based on the fictional attempted assassination of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. The group responsible has now threatened an attack on theaters choosing to show the film. Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton must decide whether or not to stop the movie’s release, while also protecting Sony’s public image, maintaining distributor relations, minimizing revenue loss, and safeguarding employees’ data from further risk.

Learning Outcomes
  1. To highlight the importance of communication during a corporate crisis.
  2. To encourage transparency between internal and external stakeholders.
  3. To demonstrate how political implications can change the dynamics of a crisis.
  4. To highlight corporate risks associated with emerging technology, particularly cloud-based storage.
  5. To encourage discussion regarding anticipation of and preparation for a large, public controversy for a company.