A team approach to corporate crisis management

When a corporation fails to effectively deal with a crisis, the consequence is often the exacerbation of the crisis into other areas of the organization which ultimately causes the original crisis to evolve into a disaster. Disasters frequently result in the death of the organization. The tenets of corporate crisis management are no longer sufficient in today's dynamic environment. Organizations must take a proactive and comprehensive approach to crisis management in order to maintain an acceptable level of risk. This research paper examines the relevant research on crisis models, the factors that contribute to crises, risk reduction, responses, people management, communications, stakeholder relations, ethics, correctional action and recovery. The review of the literature identified the growing trend for organizations to utilize crisis teams to direct the crisis management process. With increasing threats posed to organizations, a single individual is no longer sufficient to co-ordinate the crisis management process teams are better equipped to deal with the complex and ambiguous nature of crises. The crisis management team's responsibilities include risk identification and reduction, preparation, early signal detection, crisis management, organizational recovery, prevention and learning. Crisis management teams will play a growing role in the continuing viability of corporations. --P. ii.