Corporate Crisis Communication: Examining the Interplay of Reputation and Crisis Response Strategies |
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| Authors: | Dane M Kiambi Autumn Shafer |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Advertising and Public Relations, University of Nebraska-Lincoln;2. School of Journalism and Communication, University of Oregon |
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| Abstract: | This experiment study used a 2 × 3 between-subjects design to assess two factors in crisis communication and reputation management—prior corporate reputation (good and bad) and crisis response strategies (apology, sympathy, and compensation)—on an organization facing high crisis responsibility. Results indicate that stakeholders prefer apology to compensation response strategies. Organizations with a prior good reputation have better postcrisis reviews that those with a prior bad reputation. Crisis managers facing crises that generate high attribution of crisis responsibility and anger are advised to rely on apology rather than compensation strategy. It would also be advantageous for an organization with prior good reputation to highlight its past achievements when responding to a crisis. |
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