Human capital and crisis management

Abstract

ABSTRACTIncreasing accidents and dangerous events occurring at organizational and national levels have made it imperative that proper structural and cultural arrangements are established. One of the most effective approaches is crisis management (CM). Although CM is generally considered a recent rather than a customary approach, it is in the West that it has gained prominence and resources are allocated for effective performance. This study is designed to address CM and talent in the Arab World. The article draws on recent developments in a variety of fields, especially sociology, management, and international relations. More important, the article makes a strong argument that CM is doomed to failure without adequate training, learning, and development of human capital. For this very reason, the article outlines certain strategies to enhance effective coping with crises and better execution of CM. These strategies do not focus solely on the individual but also on the organization and its culture. The study develops a classification of Arab organizations in terms of their readiness to risk management.