Crisis Management
NAME: SEWVANDI HETTIARACHCI
MODULE: PUBLIC RELATIONS IN CONTEXT
STUDENT ID NUMBER: 08173144
THE ROLE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT.
INTRODUCTION
This essay is based on the role of public relations in crisis management where I will be introducing what a crisis is and how to manage it followed by the importance of public relations. How to deal with the media in a crisis is explained more in the second part of the essay. To give it practical approach organisations that successfully over came a crisis and organisations with poor crisis management will be described.
WHAT IS A CRISIS
Every organisation at a certain point faces a crisis and the outcome often depends on how they react. A crisis is “A significant business disruption which stimulates extensive news media coverage. The resulting public scrutiny will affect the organisation 's normal operations and also could have a political, legal, financial and governmental impact on its business." ICM (2009) A crisis can damage the companies financial standard, business performance, reputation and major stake holders.
A crisis can happen in operation or in communication area of the company. Depending on the business there are many possible events that can cause a crisis. Such events are as follows,
• Natural disasters • Theft or vandalism • Fire • Power cut • Fuel shortages • IT system failure • Restricted access to premises • Loss or illness of key staff • Outbreak of disease or infection • Terrorist attack • Crises affecting suppliers • Crises affecting customers • Crises affecting your business ' reputation But with good planning an organisation can take steps to minimise the impact of a disaster and prevent it from happening again.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
According to the business innovation and skills department (2009) “crisis management is the process by which the organisation manages a wider impact, such as
MODULE: PUBLIC RELATIONS IN CONTEXT
STUDENT ID NUMBER: 08173144
THE ROLE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT.
INTRODUCTION
This essay is based on the role of public relations in crisis management where I will be introducing what a crisis is and how to manage it followed by the importance of public relations. How to deal with the media in a crisis is explained more in the second part of the essay. To give it practical approach organisations that successfully over came a crisis and organisations with poor crisis management will be described.
WHAT IS A CRISIS
Every organisation at a certain point faces a crisis and the outcome often depends on how they react. A crisis is “A significant business disruption which stimulates extensive news media coverage. The resulting public scrutiny will affect the organisation 's normal operations and also could have a political, legal, financial and governmental impact on its business." ICM (2009) A crisis can damage the companies financial standard, business performance, reputation and major stake holders.
A crisis can happen in operation or in communication area of the company. Depending on the business there are many possible events that can cause a crisis. Such events are as follows,
• Natural disasters • Theft or vandalism • Fire • Power cut • Fuel shortages • IT system failure • Restricted access to premises • Loss or illness of key staff • Outbreak of disease or infection • Terrorist attack • Crises affecting suppliers • Crises affecting customers • Crises affecting your business ' reputation But with good planning an organisation can take steps to minimise the impact of a disaster and prevent it from happening again.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
According to the business innovation and skills department (2009) “crisis management is the process by which the organisation manages a wider impact, such as
References: Baines P, Egan J, Jefkins W (2004) Public Relations Contempory Issues and Techniques, Oxford, Elsevier Business innovation and skills department (2009) Crisis Management. Available at http://sandbox.dius.gov.uk [Accessed: 1 December, 2009] Business week (2007) Crisis at Northern rock. Available at: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2007/gb20070914_343931.htm [Accessed: 2nd December, 2009] Gregory. A (2003) Planning and managing public relations campaigns. London, Kogan page limited ICM (2009) Annual crisis report. Available at http://www.crisisexperts.com/ [Accessed: 28 December, 2009] Moss. D (2003) Public relations cases. New York, Rutledge Regester M & Larkin (2008) J Risk Issues and Crisis Management in Public Relations, 4th edition. London Seitel. P. F (2007) Public Relations in Practice, London, Pearson Times online (2008) The FSA Northern Rock report: the regulator that missed the collapse, Available at: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article3628701.ece [Accessed: 3rd December, 2009] s