The global interest in crisis communication continues to increase rapidly. Crisis communication dominates public relations research and can be found in organizational communication, corporate communication, and marketing. The interest in crisis communication research is a reflection of the intense practical interest in the subject. Managers in corporations and nonprofits, along with politicians, all recognize the value of effective crisis communication.
Just review recent news headlines and I am sure you will encounter some crises. Currently Toyota is dominating the headlines but there have been others, including a recall of HVP (a food additive) over salmonella fears in the U.S. that affected over 100 different products including soups, dressing, hot dogs, and seasoned snack foods. The applications of crisis communication are numerous and important. Crisis communication does have an impact on stakeholder safety. The number one priority in crisis communication should be public safety.
Researchers are helping to improve the practice of crisis communication by providing insights into what constitutes effective crisis communication. As the research unfolds, crisis communication is emerging as a distinct field of study. The recently published Handbook of Crisis Communication is the first detailed attempt to articulate the field of crisis communication. The field of crisis communication is still in its infancy and has many knowledge gaps that require additional research and development. Thus far the research focus has been on what is said and done after a crisis occurs-crisis response strategies.
This is vital information, but only one piece of the larger puzzle that is crisis communication. What are frequently overlooked are the crisis antecedents. To address this crisis communication knowledge gap we proposed the preconference titled "Antecedents of Crisis Communication: Developing a Research Agenda for Furthering Crisis Communication."
A truism in crisis management is that the best managed crisis is one that is prevented. Crisis prevention requires a clear understanding of crisis antecedents and the role of crisis communication within that process. Crisis antecedents include prevention, preparation, and appreciation of the variables that can shape later crisis responses. Researchers from around the world will gather in Singapore to discuss key points about crisis antecedents and to create an agenda for crisis antecedent research.
Researchers from Singapore, Denmark, Sweden, and the United States are all tentatively scheduled to be part of the crisis antecedent discussion. Attendees will be part of this discussion and agenda building. Intended outcomes for the preconference include the topics and methods that will help to propel the crisis antecedent agenda forward. We are very excited that the preconference is being sponsored by the University of Singapore Institute of Management. The sponsorship adds yet another dimension to what will be a very dynamic discussion of crisis antecedents.
