Definition and Importance of Crisis, Crisis Management and Communication

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1.0 Introduction

Every organisation aim to be successful. A good and effective management strategy is one necessary thing that a business should have to be able to run well. In business, crisis which can interfere the running of the business (Fearn-Banks 2009, p.6), can happen anytime, therefore, this includes the need of a good crisis management plan. "Crisis management is a set of factors designed to combat crises and to lessen the actual damage inflicted" (Coombs 2012, p.5). To be able to have an effective crisis management, effective crisis communication is necessary.

The purpose of this report is to explain the importance of crisis communication, as well as an effective crisis communication strategy for business. This report covers the definition and importance of crisis, crisis management and communication, and a case study of a failing crisis communication strategy in business as an example.

The information in this report was gathered from several books and journals related to crisis communication.

2.0 Crisis

“A crisis is a major occurrence with a potentially negative outcome affecting the organization, company, or industry, as well as its publics, products, services, or good name” (Fearn-Banks 2009, p.6).

Crisis is more serious than just a problem. It occurs rapidly; therefore, it is hard to think of the way out. In trying to handle a crisis, removing the risk and uncertainty of it, and allows the business to control their destiny, they usually use a strategic planning, which is called crisis management. To have an effective crisis management, a business should have an effective communication. (Fearn-Banks 2009,p.6-7)

3.0 Case Study of Foxconn’s 2010 Employee Suicide Crisis

3.1 Problems

Foxconn is a contract man...

... middle of paper ...

...ess Continuity & Emergency Planning, 1, 2, pp.213-220, vieiwed 2 May, 2014 Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost

Schmidt, O & Chase, D 2013, ‘Communicating inside and out’, Communication World, 30, 9, pp.14-18, viewed 3 May, 2014 Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost

Veil, SR & Husted, RA 2012, ‘Best practices as an assessment for crisis communication’, Journal of Communication Management, Vol. 16 Iss: 2, pp.131-145, viewed 3 May, 2014 Emerald Insight database

Wolburg, JM 2011, ‘Crisis communication: theory and practice’, Journal of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 28 Iss: 6, pp.459-460, viewed 4 May 2014, 2014 Emerald Insight database

Xu, K & Li, W 2013, ‘An ethical stakeholder approach to crisis communication: a case study of foxconn’s 2010 employee suicide crisis’, Journal of Business Ethics, 117, 2, pp.371-386, viewed 3 May, 2014 Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost

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