Management theory had in the past been primarily concerned with how to create success. However, there has been more interest lately in understanding organisational failures and decline. But what got these organisations into a state of decline in the first place and why do people lower in the organisation have to suffer the consequences of bad decisions made by the top? We speak to Dr Rozhan Othman on how organisations can recognise early signs of decline and what they can do about it (before it’s too late!)