Crisis Communication

When handling a crisis, it is important to classify what kind of crisis it is. This can help you determine your course of action and manage the crisis.

Here are several different systems of classification from p. 47 of Communication and Organizational Crisis by Seeger, Sellnow, & Ulmer :

Meyers & Holusha, 1986

• Public perception
• Sudden market shift
• Product failure
• Top management succession
• Cash crises
• Industrial relations
• Hostile takeover
• Adverse international events
• Regulation/deregulation

Coombs, 1999

• Natural disasters
• Malevolence
• Technical breakdowns
• Human breakdowns
• Challenges
• Megadamage
• Organizational misdeeds
• Workplace violence
• Rumors

Miroff & Anagnos, 2001

• Economic
• Informational
• Physical – Loss of key plants and facilities
• Human resource
• Reputation
• Psychopathic acts
• Natural disasters

Source:

Seeger, M. W. , Sellnow, T.L., & Ulmer, R. R. (2003). Communication and Organizational Crisis.