Early Crisis Research Articles

From Awareness to Risk Prevention: Developing Messages for Crisis Communication During Pandemics and Infodemics

This study aims to describe the crisis communication messages delivered by Kawal COVID-19 via Instagram social media in the pre-crisis and early crisis stages to deal with the pandemic and infodemic in Indonesia. Qualitative content analysis was conducted on 190 posts by the Instagram account @kawalcovid19.id on March 1-May 24, 2020. The results of the study showed that the crisis and risk communication delivered were in the form of sensemaking messages (awareness/understanding), possible risks and potential crises that would occur, and education related to the COVID-19 virus. Efficacy messages (efficacy/success) were also presented. This study also found a combination of sensemaking and efficacy messages and linked them to the social and cultural context. Other messages related to identity and public relations strategies were used to build credibility and interactivity with the public.

How Early Crises Shape Startups’ Propensity For Future Change

How Early Crises Shape Startups’ Propensity For Future Change

Development and labour resistance: a class composition perspective on import-substitution industrialisation in Chile and Argentina

Research on labour and development has demonstrated the significance, both analytically and politically, of labour for understanding the political economy of development. Analyses of labour regimes highlight the central role of reorganised workplaces and changing labour processes in value chains across the global economy. Research in global labour studies illustrates the ways in which concepts and theorisations of labour struggles emanating from the Global North struggle to capture the dynamics of labour conflict in the Global South and their wider impacts. This article argues that the revival of autonomist ‘class composition’ approaches can advance a labour perspective on development by shedding light on the importance of labour’s defeats when mapping the contours of the political economy of development. This approach reveals how what E.P. Thompson called the ‘dead ends’ of labour history are essential to understanding the grounds upon which state and capital reorganise to contain workers’ demands and struggles, thereby setting new conditions for these struggles to re-emerge. Drawing on insights from the early work of Antonio Negri, the article will examine how processes of working-class composition and decomposition occurred within the trajectory of import-substitution industrialisation in Chile and Argentina, establishing new labour regimes in its early crises. The article demonstrates this through original archival research using industry journals and publications from the textile industry in Chile and metalworking industry in Argentina.

The evolving Lebanese drug crisis: Trends in drug availability and affordability for common outpatient diseases from 2019 to 2023.

Since 2019, Lebanon has been suffering from an enduring economic crisis, that in conjunction with the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Beirut Port Explosion, has had catastrophic consequences on many facets of the Lebanese healthcare system. However, few studies have operationalized the impact of the crisis on drug availability and affordability. This is particularly relevant given that Lebanon imports approximately 95% of pharmaceutical products. Toward this end, we evaluated trends in outpatient drug availability and affordability in the context of monthly mean income at three time points throughout the evolving economic crisis (pre-crisis-August 2019, early crisis- August 2021, most recent-April 2023). Drugs used to treat the most common causes of mortality in Lebanon were selected from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)'s List of Essential Medications. Drug pricing was obtained from the Lebanese MOPH National Drug Database. We found large increases in drug prices, as a percentage of mean monthly income, after subsidies on chronic disease medications were removed. Diabetes and COPD drugs were the least affordable in 2023, amounting to 21.03% and 15.43% of mean monthly income, respectively. We also highlight great shortages in drugs across classes, particularly in mood-stabilizing psychiatric drugs and basal and bolus insulin. Our findings highlight the growing financial burden of chronic disease treatment in Lebanon and the importance of implementing both short- and long-term solutions to mitigate the impact of the crisis on public health.

Evaluation of Crisis Handling of Carasun Cosmetic Company

Threats to a company's existence can arise from a reputation crisis induced by various factors. If not handled carefully, such a reputation crisis can lead to a loss of trust from customers, investors, and employees, which, in turn, can have a detrimental impact on the overall company's performance. For example, Carasun, a cosmetics company, faced a reputation crisis due to allegations of using "buzzers" to tarnish the reputation of its competitor, Skingame. The research on Carasun's crisis aims to identify the triggering factors of the reputation crisis, evaluate the negative impacts experienced by Carasun, and analyze the company's crisis management efforts. This research uses a qualitative research method with a case study approach, and the findings indicate that Carasun's reputation crisis was triggered by the improper use of "buzzers" and negative posts on social media. The impacts of this crisis included a decrease in consumer trust, disruptions in business partner relationships, and threats to the company's sustainability. To address this crisis, Carasun has implemented crisis management strategies, including adaptive strategies and utilizing social media as a crisis communication tool. Recommendations for cosmetics companies facing reputation crises involving "buzzers" include increasing awareness of early crisis signs, improving the ability to identify crisis signs through technology and data analysis, and strengthening internal coordination and communication by prioritizing ethical values and integrity.

Crisis management in international organisations: the League of Nations’ response to early challenges

How do international organisations (IOs) respond to existential challenges such as membership withdrawals or budget cuts? Some IOs manage to ignore the challenge or adapt to the demands of the challenging state whereas others build institutional capacities to resist the pressure. Yet, we know little about the internal dynamics that shape IOs’ responses to such challenges. This article investigates to what extent IOs’ threat perception determines the intensity and direction of their responses to crises. Using the League of Nations’ responses to early crises as an explorative historical case study, the analysis shows that a timely and homogenous perception of a crisis leads to a more assertive and substantial response. Two broader conclusions can be drawn from the analysis for IO research. First, the role of international bureaucrats should not be underestimated in shaping an IO’s response to crises. Second, the findings indicate that a more nuanced perspective on the League’s crisis management can help overcome the failure narrative that dominates the current understanding of the League in International Relations research.

Stepwise deforestation during the Permian-Triassic boundary crisis linked to rising temperatures

Although the trajectory of the marine mass extinction at the ∼252-Ma Permian-Triassic (P-Tr) boundary has been well studied, details of the coeval collapse of terrestrial ecosystems remain murky. Here, we use hydrocarbon biomarker compositions and other geological records (i.e., organic carbon isotopes (δ13Corg), charcoal abundance, and Hg content) from a tropical peatland succession in southwestern China to reconstruct in detail the history of terrestrial ecosystem collapse during the P-Tr crisis. Our high-resolution hydrocarbon biomarker records reveal that this collapse proceeded in a stepwise manner with increasing intensity as the crisis unfolded. We recognize three discrete crisis stages: Stage I within the uppermost Xuanwei Formation and Stages II and III within the lowermost Kayitou Formation. Stage I, the early crisis stage, is marked by a significant decline in terrestrial biomass (continuing into the later stages), as recorded by reduced C29 steranes relative to total steranes and a concomitant reduction in the ratio of pristane to phytane (Pr/Ph). Stage II, the main crisis stage, records intensified soil erosion and sediment flux as revealed by rising dibenzofuran (DBF) content and high hopane/sterane ratios, the disappearance of coal seams, a sharp negative shift in δ13Corg, and peak concentrations of charcoal reflecting increased wildfire incidence. Stage III, the late crisis stage characterized by enhanced soil erosion, corresponds to peak values of Hg and Hg/TOC but no charcoal peak, suggesting intensified volcanism and a return to a humid climate. These stages closely follow temperature records, which show a stepwise rise during the crisis interval, implying that the deforestation process was strongly influenced by punctuated rises in temperature and/or its attendant effects (e.g., climate aridification). This P-Tr transition scenario suggests that global warming can trigger deforestation and reduce terrestrial carbon storage, thus serving as a positive climate feedback, with important implications for present-day climate change.

ONLINE-IGNITED CRISES AND POST-CRISIS IMAGE RESTORATION: EXAMPLE OF FLIGHT 3411 INCIDENT

The aim of this paper is to examine the flow and evolution of the communication crises in a digital space, how different crisis response approaches contributed to the escalation and suppression of the crisis, and how communicating of post-crisis organizational and policy changes contributed to the image restoration. The crisis evolution and flow have been investigated through the document analysis, based on the publicly available sources related to the exemplary critical situation – Flight 3411 incident. The textual analysis, which is the prevalent and primary method of analysis in image repair and image restoration studies, has been used to analyze both crisis and post-crisis situation. Reactive approach to communication contribute to the quick evolution of the crisis. Denial responses in the early crisis stage contribute to spreading out the crisis. Changing communication approach from reactive to proactive and from denial to rebuilding (Coombs, 2007) may contribute to the crisis suppression and risk mitigation. Consistent communicating of the policy changes in the aftermath of the crisis may contribute to rebuilding the organizational image. This paper is among the rare contributions analyzing mechanisms of the crisis evolution, including transformation of a paracrisis into crisis. Moreover, it depicts the role of post-crisis communications in the organizational image restoration in the digital era. The paper provides an overview how changes of the communications approach affect the flow of the crisis and offers conclusions useful both for theoretical and practical considerations of the paracrises, crisis communications and post-crisis communications.

Early crisis warning system using community engagement through social network sites in times of disaster

Summary. Throughout history humanity has always faced different kinds of hazards endangering human lives and their properties. Therefore, humans started to develop methods to help them reduce risks. Disaster management mostly depends on geographical information system (GIS) and disaster communication. One element of disaster communication is early warning systems (EWSs). EWSs one time used to use hazard bells, but they have developed over time. Our age is characterized by new ways of digitized communication. Social network sites (SNS) have brought advantages and challenges not only for the authorities involved in disaster communication but for the whole community. In this study we investigate the credibility and reliability of using SNS in EWSs through the case of the Dead Sea flashing floods of 2018. Results reflect which is more credible and we provide recommendations aimed at civil protection in Jordan. Absztrakt. A történelem során az emberiség mindig is szembesült különböző katasztrófákkal, amelyek nemcsak az emberi életet, hanem az anyagi javakat is veszélyeztették. Éppen ezért szükség volt olyan módszerek kidolgozására, amelyek csökkentik a kockázatokat. A katasztrófa elleni védelem hatékonysága számottevően függ a földrajzi információs rendszertől (GIS) és a kommunikációtól, amelyek az elmúlt évtizedekben gyors ütemben fejlődtek. A katasztrófavédelem fontos eleme a korai figyelmeztető rendszer, amely előre jelzi a veszélyeket az adott földrajzi területen. Régen a korai figyelmeztetést szolgálták bizonyos fokig a vészharangok is. Napjainkban már a katasztrófa-kommunikációs módszerek egyre hatékonyabbak, az emberek időbeni figyelmeztetése pedig egyre fontosabb. Ez utóbbira számos módszer létezik a katasztrófa típusától, illetve a veszélyek jellegétől függően, amelyekkel külön-külön felelős szolgálatok foglalkoznak. A villámárvizek esetében ismert az internetnek és azoknak az érzékelőknek a jelentősége, amelyek a talajnedvesség mérését végzik, szükség szerint riasztva a felelős katasztrófavédelmi vagy polgári védelmi csapatokat. Szintén elengedhetetlen az adott területen élő közösségeknek az elsők közötti értesítése, amiben a közösségi hálózati helyek technológiája nagy előrelépést hozott. Az emberek ugyanis elkezdtek fontos, veszélyt jelző tartalmakat megosztani a közösségi hálózati helyeken [Social Network Site (SNS)] élő közvetítéssel, vagy videók, fényképek küldésével rokonoknak, barátoknak és ismerősöknek. Ezeknek a platformoknak a használata sok esetben hasznos volt a katasztrófavédők számára is, mivel minden érintett figyelmét felkeltették. Ez a tanulmány a 2018-as holt-tengeri villámárvizek példáján mutatja be az SNS alkalmazásának a hitelességét és megbízhatóságát a korai krízis figyelmeztető rendszerekben. Rávilágít arra, hogy a jordán kormány által kiadott előző napi figyelmeztetés nem volt olyan hatékony, mint az, amikor a figyelmeztetést közösségi hálózati helyeken osztották meg. A súlyos áradások következtében ugyanis az előbbi alkalommal voltak halálos áldozatok is, míg az utóbbi figyelmeztető módszer használata révén nem történt sérülés és haláleset sem. A tanulmány bemutatja a helyi híroldalak és az SNS összehasonlításának és tesztelésének eredményeit a jordán közösségben végzett felmérésre alapozva. Továbbá arra a kérdésre is választ keres, hogy az SNS lehet-e a Jordániában használható korai figyelmeztető rendszer módszere. A kérdőíves felmérésre 650 válasz érkezett, amelyeket különféle statisztikai módszerekkel elemeztünk. A tanulmány a főbb megállapításokat összehasonlítja hasonló témájú, korábbi tanulmányokkal is. Ehhez az egyik legnagyobb bibliometriai adatbázisban, a Scopusban kulcsszavak alapján folytatott keresések szolgáltak alapul, összehasonlítva a tanulmány eredményeit a tíz legjobban idézett dokumentummal. A tanulmány megállapításai, ajánlásai a jordániai polgári védelem, valamint a katasztrófaelhárító szolgálatok számára lehetnek hasznosak a villámárvizek esetén. Továbbá, ösztönzést adhatnak arra, hogy több SNS-csatornát hozzanak létre a közösségekben, hogy időben tudjanak riasztásokat adni, és hogy fokozzák a tudatosságot az ilyen veszélyekkel összefüggésben. A jordán példa más országok számára is tanulságokkal szolgálhat a korai krízis figyelmeztető rendszerek terén.

Defence organizations in emergency networks: the early response to COVID-19 in Europe

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyse the crisis network response of European countries and the role played by defence organizations (DOs) during the early response phase of the pandemic, here set to encompass 75 days.Design/methodology/approachPublished materials – reports, news and communications – provided by authorities and DOs were used. Some of the authors actively participated in national pandemic response networks. An exploratory approach and qualitative content analysis were applied. The data were collected in national languages from 13 European countries, and they were coded and analysed using the actors, resources and activities (ARA) framework.FindingsThis study identified three main categories of activity structures in which the DOs interacted with civilian members of response networks, health-related services, logistics services and public support services. These networks among actors were found within formal response systems and emergent networks. The DOs engaged as actors that provided a range of services when civil authorities could not cope with the huge demand for specific services and when resources were scarce in the initial response phase.Originality/valueThis study contributes by filling an important research gap with regard to the civil-military relations associated with the use of DO resources in the civil response to the pandemic crisis in Europe, which is described as an untraditional response. The ARA network approach provides a framework for arranging ARA and extends the wider civil-military network to expand the formal networks of the early crisis response. The study lays knowledge about the co-operation between civilian and military actors in different contexts and provides a broader understanding of the roles that DOs played in the response operations.

An intermestic approach to China's public diplomacy: a case study of Beijing's COVID-19 communication in the early stages

PurposeThe aim of this study was to examine the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak and the international communication management of Chinese diplomats as a case for extending the definition of intermestic public diplomacy. The goal was to reveal how Beijing subtly used both domestic and foreign social media to organize a network for communication about COVID-19 and purposefully soften the highly centralized and hierarchical political propaganda of the Communist Party of China (CPC).Design/methodology/approachBased on the literature on digital public diplomacy, the authors applied the existing concept of intermestic to Chinese politics in order to demonstrate the digitalization of public diplomacy, along with its forms and strategies under an authoritarian regime. A hybrid methodology combining quantitative network analysis and qualitative discourse analysis permits examination of China's intermestic online communication network dynamics, shedding light on how such an intermestic practice promoted Chinese values and power to international publics in the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis.FindingsThe authors’ findings extend the implications of intermestic public diplomacy from a democratic context to an authoritarian one. By analyzing the content of public diplomacy and para-diplomatic social media accounts in China and abroad at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the authors outlined China's early crisis management, explaining its intermestic public diplomacy transmission modes and strategies. Moreover, the authors identified changes in the narrative strategies of Chinese diplomats and journalists during this process.Social implicationsThe findings of this study underline that Beijing established a narrative-making virtual communication structure for disseminating favorable Chinese strategic narratives and voices through differentiated communication on domestic and foreign social media platforms. Such intermestic communication strategies were particularly evident and even further weaponized by Beijing in its large-scale Wolf Warrior diplomacy in the spring of 2020. Thus, the study’s findings help readers understand how China digitalized its public diplomacy, its digital communication patterns and strategies.Originality/valueOn the one hand, geopolitical uncertainty and the popularity of social media have contributed to the evolution of the intermestic model of public diplomacy. This model allows actors to coordinate homogenous and differentiated communication practices to deploy their influence. On the other hand, the authors did not examine how intermestic audiences perceive and receive public diplomacy practices. In future studies, scholars should measure the agenda-setting capacity of diplomatic actors by examining the effects of such intermestic communication efforts.

Continental weathering and recovery from ocean nutrient stress during the Early Triassic Biotic Crisis

Following the latest Permian extinction ∼252 million years ago, normal marine and terrestrial ecosystems did not recover for another 5-9 million years. The driver(s) for the Early Triassic biotic crisis, marked by high atmospheric CO2 concentration, extreme ocean warming, and marine anoxia, remains unclear. Here we constrain the timing of authigenic K-bearing mineral formation extracted from supergene weathering profiles of NW-Pangea by Argon geochronology, to demonstrate that an accelerated hydrological cycle causing intense chemical alteration of the continents occurred between ∼254 and 248 Ma, and continued throughout the Triassic period. We show that enhanced ocean nutrient supply from this intense continental weathering did not trigger increased ocean productivity during the Early Triassic biotic crisis, due to strong thermal ocean stratification off NW Pangea. Nitrogen isotope constraints suggest, instead, that full recovery from ocean nutrient stress, despite some brief amelioration ∼1.5 million years after the latest Permian extinction, did not commence until climate cooling revitalized the global upwelling systems and ocean mixing ∼10 million years after the mass extinction.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – Building capacities for the use of big data algorithm systems (BDAS) in early crisis detection

Public sector organizations at all levels of government increasingly rely on Big Data Algorithmic Systems (BDAS) to support decision-making along the entire policy cycle. But while our knowledge on the use of big data continues to grow for government agencies implementing and delivering public services, empirical research on applications for anticipatory policy design is still in its infancy. Based on the concept of policy analytical capacity (PAC), this case study examines the application of BDAS for early crisis detection within the German Federal Government—that is, the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO) and the Federal Ministry of Defence (FMoD). It uses the nested model of PAC to reflect on systemic, organizational, and individual capacity-building from a neoinstitutional perspective and allow for the consideration of embedded institutional contexts. Results from semi-structured interviews indicate that governments seeking to exploit BDAS in policymaking depend on their institutional environment (e.g., through research and data governance infrastructure). However, specific capacity-building strategies may differ according to the departments' institutional framework, with the FMoD relying heavily on subordinate agencies and the FFO creating network-like structures with external researchers. Government capacity-building at the individual and organizational level is similarly affected by long-established institutional structures, roles, and practices within the organization and beyond, making it important to analyze these three levels simultaneously instead of separately.

CSR crises from the consumers’ perspective: a multidimensional typology and future research agenda

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a multidimensional corporate social responsibility (CSR) crisis typology from the consumers’ perspective and to provide an agenda for future research.Design/methodology/approachBasic content-related dimensions for characterizing CSR crises from the consumers’ perspective are derived from a review of relevant static crisis typologies. Different types of consumer responses to negative CSR information are derived from various theoretical approaches. Dynamic process models of corporate crises are reviewed to assign various types of consumer responses to different crisis phases. Linking both static and dynamic approaches leads to a comprehensive consumer-oriented typology of CSR crises that is illustrated with examples.FindingsA CSR crises typology is developed based on three consumer-related dimensions: the extent to which the company is attributed blame by consumers; the amount of perceived damage potential; and the perceived CSR relevance of the crisis situation. The combination of these dimensions results in eight different crisis types. For each of these crisis types, different forms of consumer responses are assigned that prevail in the so-called potential, latent and manifest crisis phase.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research could address the empirical review of the crisis typology presented, its refinement by considering various consumer and stakeholder segmentation approaches and the advanced dynamic analysis of CSR crises by including stakeholder characteristics that impact the diffusion of CSR-related negative publicity.Practical implicationsThe results of this paper support early crisis detection and effective crisis management by identifying relevant target variables for crisis communication.Originality/valueThe typology developed enables a broad spectrum of CSR crises to be classified, including those that have been neglected in previous systematization approaches, such as CSR-related tensions, general sustainability crises and product-harm crises. Due to its theoretical foundation, this paper also contributes to a clearer demarcation of existing CSR crisis constructs.

Reframing Early Psychiatric Crises: a Capabilities-Informed Approach

Spurred by a working conference convened in the fall of 2009 by the Center to Study Recovery in Social Contexts and INTAR (the International Network Towards Alternatives and Recovery), this paper first develops a serviceable version of Sen’s capabilities approach for use in public mental health and then explores how its conceptual toolkit might aid us in rethinking about we approach “first breaks” and early crises. This will be exploratory labor.2 Provisional efforts have been made to use the capabilities approach to rethink recovery and social integration as outcomes, to support self-determination, and to make a case for peer participation in research. This paper shifts the focus from the remedial work of treatment and social re-entry to the preventive work of crisis management and biographical continuity. After sorting through Sen’s approach for grounding principles and heuristic guides – which is here compiled into a sort of primer or toolkit, distilled into 8 key ideas and an anthropological coda on adolescent trial/error – I go on to identify three alternative ways that a capabilities approach might usefully reframe disability and impairment. That done, I make the case for applying the third (or radical) version to the social reception of early crises and try to envision what that might look like in practice.

Something’s in the water: California’s Central Valley and the poison in the well

Like the water crisis that plagued Flint, Michigan, Earlimart – California’s crisis of poisoned water – is also a study in environmental racism. Remarkable to Earlimart is the role of citizen journalists in early crisis reporting, as they posted community impact updates on Facebook in real-time, outpacing public agency communication. As media professors in California’s Central Valley, we explore the racial and economic marginalization that emerged from the Earlimart crisis, with specific focus on low-income rural immigrant communities whose citizens had limited remediation. Our findings reinforce scholarship regarding the role of social media in relaying at-your-fingertips information to inform and mobilize the public.

Выявление циклических закономерностей в динамике макроэкономических показателей Российской Федерации на основе спектрального анализа

The paper proposes a contemporary interdisciplinary method to identify consistent patterns within cyclical dynamics of GDP and its macroeconomics determinants in the Russian Federation. This method may contribute to better recognition of the stages of economic cycle and of potential early predicators to recessions and crises. We first identify the trend component of Russian GDP and then apply the spectral data analysis to its cyclical component which reveals its multi-frequency, and non-linear vibrations. These vibrations are then further investigated by transforming time series data on GDP and its determinants into a frequency spectrum series via Fourier transform techniques. Wavelength scanning of selected macroeconomic indicators shows the basic economic cycle of real GDP with duration time of approx. 3.13 years. Other procyclical indicators nevertheless discover asynchronous behavior towards GDP due to the relative autonomy of the sectors standing behind these indicators. Their autonomy lies behind differences in reaction forces (shifts) and periods (lags) to both internal and external shocks. We estimate differentials between the dynamics of GDP and its determinants by evaluating phase deviations of their pairwise harmonic components, mutual pairwise phase shifts, and by comparison of their pairwise cross-spectrum. The one of output is the quantification of time lags between GDP and key macroeconomic indicators of individual economic sectors. This result reveals the complexity of GDP dynamics that sends an aliased rather than a unit signal to economic agents. Our decomposition of this signal into signals from key economic sectors and quantification of phase discrepancies between sectoral signals may contribute to findings in early crisis predicators. We also estimate the depth and velocity of shocks penetrations into both economy as a whole and its particular sectors.

Contingency Planning and Early Crisis Management: Italy and the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study examines the level of preparedness exhibited through strategy, planning and organization to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. A comparative analysis of four regions revealed that the implementation of pandemic plans was affected by multiple factors. For instance, some planning was outdated and insufficient to cope with the new threat posed by the pandemic; due to a decentralized health care system, there was confusion about whether regional or national decision-making was the coordinating actor; shortages in supplies and equipment such as masks, in some regions, were due to lack of implementation of existing pandemic plans. The study emphasizes the importance of a coordinated response to crises.

Organizational Communication Responses to COVID-19 Pandemic: Effectiveness of Strategies and Practices used by Organizations in Turkana County

In a crisis situation, employees face challenges and pressures because they have to deal with unexpected disruption in their routine working environments with high level of uncertainty. Organizations in Turkana County are no exception and therefore the management had to come up with strategies to ensure continuity. Organizational communication strategies and practices play important roles in giving employees information, direction and support. This research aimed to explore how the responses of organizational communication strategies and practices are and how effective Organizations in Turkana County employed them to such a specific crisis: Covid-19 Pandemic, using situational crisis communication theoretical framework. This research applied qualitative approach. This research applied qualitative approach. This research involved four organizations, two business organizations and two educational organizations which were selected using maximum variation sampling technique. Four people representing each of the organizations were interviewed using inductive method. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings showed that organizational communication strategies and practices being used by all participants' departments are mostly related to the preparation stage and the response stage of the crisis management. Early crisis management planning, forming crisis management teams and preparing supporting communication system, including providing health care facilities and communication protocols for infected employees are salient practices during the preparation stage. In the response stage, leader and horizontal communication intensively used a variety of social media and web conference applications. Interestingly, informal communication was minimized, while formal communication was conducted intensively and transparently. Furthermore, sensitivity to employees' needs and conditions as well as emphatic communication expressing positive emotion and support was perceived as positive to help employees understand the information well and to feel understood and appreciated.

Crisis, firm characteristics and stock performance: evidence from Hospitality and Tourism sector

ABSTRACT This study investigates the critical firm-level strengths and weaknesses that explain cross-sectional variations in abnormal stock returns of Hospitality and Tourism (HT) firms during different phases of a crisis. We used the event study and multivariate regression framework for analysing the Indian HT firms’ data around the COVID-19 crisis. While reporting a significant negative influence of COVID-19, we identified the early crisis, market crash and continuation of the crisis periods. Furthermore, we observe that during the early-crisis period, business diversity, financial stability and board diversity improved HT firms’ strength to withstand the risk, while business group affiliation was of little help. During the market crash and continuation of the crisis phase, better capital intensity and financial stability proved helpful. The managers of HT firms can take cues from this study to understand firm-level characteristics that provide resilience to their firms’ value in managing different phases of the crisis.