Crisis

Crisis is a very important label when managing an organization. When a situation is designated as a crisis, it means that attention and resources will be focused on that concern. Crises have implications for corporate reputations because, as experts agree, crises damage reputations. Scandals and accidents are specific types of crises that have unique effects on corporate reputations. This entry defines the term crisis and examines scandals and accidents as critical crisis types. It also discusses how the distinctions between integrity and competence crises and stakeholders’ perceptions of the organization’s level of responsibility for the crisis are important when identifying the crisis type.