Top-Down versus Bottom-Up Change
It is often the case that companies are faced with a dilemma about whether the change initiatives must be driven from the top or they should be organic from the bottom up. This is especially the case with organizations that are growing in size where the increase employee base or the skyrocketing sales and revenues […]
Role of Employees in Reducing Threats to Organization
Employees are the backbone of every organization. They play a crucial role in controlling and also reducing the threats to organization. The major threat to an organization is a non serious employee who attends office just for the sake of it. Individuals need to love their organization for them to deliver their level best. The […]
What is Development Administration ?
The traditional approach towards administration has been limited in its scope and premise, the core of which was strict adherence to laid down rules and hierarchy. In essence it has limited the role administration to that of a fire fighter or overseer of law and order in the comfort of laid down principals. While, nothing […]
How to Win at Workplace Politics
Irrational behavior of an individual against his colleague to tarnish his image and spoil his reputation at the workplace refers to politics. Office Politics is something which is inevitable. In every organization you would definitely find someone or the other indulged in politics to make his position secure at the workplace. Employees are involved in […]
Theory of Brain Lateralization
Brain Lateralization theory stress on the fact that the two halves of the brain known as right and left hemispheres function differently but yet interdependently. If we study the brain anatomy, we will understand that the brain is divided into 2 hemispheres which are connected by the corpus callosum. Both these hemispheres regulate the body […]
Crisis refer to unplanned events which cause harm to the organization and lead to disturbances and major unrest amongst the employees.
Crisis gives rise to a feeling of fear and threat in the individuals who eventually lose interest and trust in the organization.
Gonzalez-Herrero and Pratt proposed a Crisis Management Model which identified three different stages of crisis management.
According to Gonzalez-Herrero and Pratt, crisis management includes following three stages:
The first stage involves detecting the early indicators of crisis. It is for the leaders and managers to sense the warning signals of a crisis and prepare the employees to face the same with courage and determination. Superiors must review the performance of their subordinates from time to time to know what they are up to.
The role of a manager is not just to sit in closed cabins and shout on his subordinates. He must know what is happening around him. Monitoring the performance of the employee regularly helps the managers to foresee crisis and warn the employees against the negative consequences of the same. One should not ignore the alarming signals of crisis but take necessary actions to prevent it. Take initiative on your own. Don’t wait for others.
Once a crisis is being detected, crisis management team must immediately jump into action. Ask the employees not to panic. Devise relevant strategies to avoid an emergency situation. Sit and discuss with the related members to come out with a solution which would work best at the times of crisis. It is essential to take quick decisions. One needs to be alert and most importantly patient. Make sure your facts and figures are correct. Don’t rely on mere guess works and assumptions. It will cost you later.
Employees must adjust well to new situations and changes for effective functioning of organization in near future. It is important to analyze the causes which led to a crisis at the workplace. Mistakes should not be repeated and new plans and processes must be incorporated in the system.
According to structural functions systems theory, communication plays a pivotal role in crisis management. Correct flow of information across all hierarchies is essential. Transparency must be maintained at all levels. Management must effectively communicate with employees and provide them the necessary information at the times of crisis. Ignoring people does not help, instead makes situations worse. Superiors must be in regular touch with subordinates. Leaders must take charge and ask the employees to give their best.
Diffusion of innovation theory proposed by Everett Rogers, supports the sharing of information during emergency situations. As the name suggests during crisis each employee should think out of the box and come out with something innovative to overcome tough times. One should be ready with an alternate plan. Once an employee comes up with an innovative idea, he must not keep things to himself. Spread the idea amongst all employees and departments. Effective communication is essential to pass on ideas and information in its desired form.
Unequal human capital theory was proposed by James. According to unequal human capital theory, inequality amongst employees leads to crisis at the workplace. Discrimation on the grounds of caste, job profile as well as salary lead to frustrated employees who eventually play with the brand name, spread baseless rumors and earn a bad name for the organization.
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Chain of Command, Business Continuity Planning, and Crisis Leadership in Corporates
February 12, 2025
