Crisis Communication Management: Applying Theory To Real Cases Read Online [better] [ BEST ]

| | Theory Behind It | Action Step | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1. Detect | Situational Awareness | Set up social listening alerts before the crisis. (JetBlue failed this.) | | 2. Acknowledge | SCCT (Victim cluster) | Respond in 1 hour. "We are aware of X and are investigating." Silence = Guilt. | | 3. Express Empathy | Image Repair (Mortification) | Say "We are sorry this happened" even before fault is determined. | | 4. State Facts & Action | Corrective Action | What broke? What are you fixing right now ? | | 5. Rebuild Trust | Two-way communication | Create a public timeline of fixes. Invite audits. (KFC’s "FCK" ad did this.) | The Single Biggest Lesson from 20 Real Cases Theory says: "Match the response to the responsibility." Reality says: "Your customers don't care about your org chart."

Whether you're Tylenol (1982) recalling capsules perfectly or Boeing (2019) denying MCAS software flaws, the public uses a simple moral test: Are you choosing safety over money? People over process? | | Theory Behind It | Action Step

The crisis: A passenger, Dr. David Dao, was violently dragged off an overbooked flight. Videos went viral. Blood on his face. Other passengers screaming. Acknowledge | SCCT (Victim cluster) | Respond in 1 hour

The crisis: A Valentine’s Day ice storm grounded 1,100 JetBlue flights. Passengers sat on tarmacs for up to 11 hours. No food. No working toilets. The CEO, David Neeleman, was in a tunnel with no cell service. Express Empathy | Image Repair (Mortification) | Say

The result: United stock dropped $1.4 billion in value. Munoz later called it a "humbling experience."

The theory applied (correctly later): Neeleman pivoted to full . He went on every news channel, admitted "We are not perfect," published a "Customer Bill of Rights," and offered full refunds + vouchers.