Given the special relationship with employees, organizations should pay great attention to internal communication during crises. Drawing from the Contingency Theory of Conflict Management and the perspective of employees as active participants in crisis communication, this study proposes a “Contingency Theory of Internal Crisis Communication”. The study identifies and operationalizes three accommodative internal communication strategies: to create a sense of security, to sustain a sense of belonging and to activate employees as allies of the organization. Furthermore, it tests four contingency factors that influence the adoption of an accommodative approach in the context of the Covid-19 health crisis. Findings show the high relevance of the risk of decreased employee engagement, and the risk of employee health and safety; and a weaker relevance of the risk of reputational damage to the organization in the eyes of employees. The relevance of the risk of economic damage is not confirmed.

Internal crisis communication strategies: Contingency factors determining an accommodative approach, 2022-06-01.

Internal crisis communication strategies: Contingency factors determining an accommodative approach

Mazzei, Alessandra
;
Ravazzani, Silvia;Fisichella, Chiara;Butera, Alfonsa;Quaratino, Luca
2022-06-01

Abstract

Given the special relationship with employees, organizations should pay great attention to internal communication during crises. Drawing from the Contingency Theory of Conflict Management and the perspective of employees as active participants in crisis communication, this study proposes a “Contingency Theory of Internal Crisis Communication”. The study identifies and operationalizes three accommodative internal communication strategies: to create a sense of security, to sustain a sense of belonging and to activate employees as allies of the organization. Furthermore, it tests four contingency factors that influence the adoption of an accommodative approach in the context of the Covid-19 health crisis. Findings show the high relevance of the risk of decreased employee engagement, and the risk of employee health and safety; and a weaker relevance of the risk of reputational damage to the organization in the eyes of employees. The relevance of the risk of economic damage is not confirmed.
Inglese
1-giu-2022
12-mag-2022
Elsevier
48
1
8
9
internazionale
esperti anonimi
con ISI Impact Factor
A stampa
Settore SECS-P/08 - Economia e Gestione delle Imprese
5
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10808/44364
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