Crisis Management - Influencing factors, implementation and preparedness

Purpose:The purpose of this thesis is to examine how organizations work with crisismanagement in practice, with a focus on lower and middle level managersin the organizations. Background:Crisis within corporations and governmental institutions happens around usmore and more commonly. A survey made by the insurance company IFclaims that Swedish companies are badly prepared within the area of crisismanagement. A more globalized world also increases the effects of crisesfrom all over the world to affect Swedish corporations. We claim thatorganizational structure is a key factor to be able to have a developedcrisis management throughout the whole organization. Method:In order to answer the purpose we have used a qualitative deductiveresearch method. We have conducted semi-structured face to faceinterviews within two different types of Swedish organizations. Therespondents were chosen randomly from a division- or group managementlevel. Conclusion:The empirical study claims that there is a difference when defining a crisis,depending on previous experiences and education. To have the sameeducation and an overall common understanding of crisis management alsoincreases the efficiency when handling a crisis. Organizational structure and hierarchy is vital when it comes to crisismanagement. To have a clear structure and standardized meetings withinthe organization will help vigorous information to be communicated fromtop-bottom as well as from the bottom-top. However it might decreasethe flexibility and entrepreneurial spirit and our findings suggest that thisis an area that needs to involve within further researches.