Mitroff, Ian, and Can Alpaslan. Swans, Swine, and Swindlers. Stanford University Press, 2011.
In this book, the authors raise issues of crisis management and consider the causes that underlie crises. Notably, crises are seen as chaotic or disorderly processes. And in this chaos, the authors find networks of dynamically interacting processes that create problems and paradoxes. Therefore, the authors believe that the task of a manager is to open his eyes to problems and find solutions to puzzles. The search for solutions is facilitated by the analysis of conscious and unconscious beliefs, values, emotions, and prejudices. The book is especially interesting for understanding the global financial crisis, the climate crisis, the poverty crisis, and the financial crisis of 2008.
Barton, Michelle A., et al. “Performing under Uncertainty: Contextualized Engagement in Wildland Firefighting.” Journal of Contingency and Crisis Management, vol. 23, no. 2, 2015, pp. 74-83.
In this article, the authors provide schemes and methods of action under conditions of uncertainty. In particular, the scientists propose to use a bidirectional set of practices developed within the current changing contexts. Bidirectionality is likely to involve leadership involvement and attachment to situations. Performance gains under uncertainty can be achieved by making sense of inconsistencies as situations evolve, and deepening that understanding. Scientists have given the name to this process – “pre-emptive comprehension of the leader”. The book describes ways to deal with and confront crises, focusing more on resolving the consequences than on finding the causes.
Barton, Michelle A., and William A. Kahn. “Group Resilience: The Place and Meaning of Relational Pauses.” Organization Studies, vol. 40, no. 9, 2019), pp. 1409-1429.
In this article, the authors analyze the group dynamics of resistance to unforeseen circumstances and adversity. Scientists consider how managers often focus only on the goals of the firm and the achievement of those goals. The authors argue that the absorption of stress occurs within the relational microdynamics of relations in groups. There are two trajectories of intra-group behavior, where groups respond with defensive patterns, remaining vulnerable to the consequences of unforeseen circumstances, and when groups demonstrate resilience by reducing anxiety reduction and mitigating anxiety through reflection and “pause in the relationship”, becoming stronger and more resilient.
Baumann, Zygmunt. Liquid Fear. John Wiley & Sons, 2013.
In this book, the author discusses the origin, dynamics, and uses of fear in the postmodern ‘liquid’ era. The third chapter describing the ‘horror of unmanageable’ deserves particular attention due to the description of the global catastrophes that humanity can expect. In the introduction, the author discusses the nature of fear itself. He notes that “Fear is at its most fearsome when it is diffuse, scattered, unclear, unattached, unanchored, free-floating, with no clear address or cause” (p. 6). The author also describes the paradoxical phenomenon of relief when a hidden threat suddenly comes to the surface, forcing individuals to mobilize resources and direct their efforts, or determining the futility of the struggle. The book describes the types of individual reactions to crises, which complements the previous literature, which presents the behavior of leaders and groups.
Frieden, Tom. “Which Countries Have Responded Best to Covid-19?”The Wall Street Journal, Web.
In the article, the author compares the immediate actions that countries have taken in response to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. A retrospective of the beginning of the spread of the disease in Wuhan is offered, and then a list of countries and their methods of control is presented, including Taiwan, Liberia, New Zealand, American Samoa, South Korea, Hong Kong, Denmark, India, and Finland. The author gives statistics on deaths from the virus, with a total of 3,366,140 deaths worldwide. The article explains factors that influenced the adequate or inadequate measures taken by governments, healthcare, and the informational sectors, in response to the challenges of the pandemic. The author notes that the pandemic affected medical practices, allowing doctors to learn from their mistakes, and improving the ways of communication and interaction between employees.
Han, Byung-Chul. The Burnout Society. Stanford Briefs, 2015.
In this book, the author offers a perspective on the individual emotional experiences and life in a postmodern society characterized by the dominance of technology and multitasking. The spread of consumer culture leads to the emergence of depression, attention deficit disorder, and borderline personality disorder. The author provides insights into why stress occurs and how it relates to the promotion of constant positivity and universal accessibility, viewing experiences as a social and even historical phenomenon. The book denounces the unification and standardization of human responses and the intellectualization of personal experiences. In general, the book gives another perspective on the influence of modern consumer culture on a person, which can be compared with a pandemic that affects the human psyche and emotions.
Han, Byung-Chul. The Disappearance of Rituals: A Topology of the Present. John Wiley & Sons, 2020.
In this book, the author develops the idea of the harmful influence of consumer culture on modern society. In his opinion, the cult of authenticity, narcissism, and introversion are pathologies generated by the culture of consumption and are a crisis in the community. As a result of mass consumerism, people are deprived of value orientations for recognizing and identifying themselves with other groups and communities. Therefore, the existence of symbols and symbolic structures is the only way to create a foothold for understanding the objective modern world. Probably, the author speaks about ways of unity based on political, social, or cultural views that are shared by communities and consider these processes as modern rituals that support a sense of collective consciousness.
Han, Byung-Chul. The Expulsion of the Other: Society, Perception and Communication Today. John Wiley & Sons, 2018.
In this book the author presents a more specific understanding of the narcissistic consumer culture. In his opinion, narcissism leads to the erasing of differences in the outside world, unifying concepts and concepts, which leads to the horror of life in a world where there are no differences. The author also suggests that the resulting disorientation leads to acts of violence and terrorism. No less important, the scientist explains that in the modern world, the problems of individuals are not associated with external suppression, but with internal depression, destructive pressure coming from within. Depression can be overcome by abandoning isolation and accepting the suffering associated with the need to accept and acknowledge the desires of others.
Heide, Mats, and Charlotte Simonsson. Internal Crisis Communication: Crisis Awareness, Leadership, and Coworkership. Routledge, 2019.
In this book, the author describes the processes of crisis management in organizations. Organizations respond to crises according to specific plans and have crisis management personnel. However, the author notes the need to pay more attention to communication between managers and employees. To do this, one needs to develop internal crisis communications, that is, guidelines for communication during a crisis, including acute phases, and phases that precede the crisis, and come after the acute phase has been completed.
Li, Qing. Immersive Communication: The Communication Paradigm of the Third Media Age. Routledge, 2020.
In this book, the author explores new ways of communication, such as ‘immersive communication.’ It marks the transition from bidirectional communication involving feedback to unidirectional immersive communication. The latter is supported by technologies and applications, that is, new means of information exchange. The book is interesting within the framework of the study, as it offers an alternative definition of the process that other authors describe as mass narcissism and consumer culture, considering the possible positive aspects of introspection.
Nietzsche, Friedrich. Twilight of Idols. Penguin, 1968.
In this book, Nietzsche uses a metaphorical hammer to finally destroy the empty and now useless idols that have ruled the minds for hundreds of years. Following the refutation of religious ideals in the book God is Dead, the author declares war on the remaining idols of his contemporaries. It is noteworthy that Nietzsche changed attitudes towards traditional philosophical thought and perception of reality. The book can become a guide for overthrowing the culture of consumption and developing strategies to counter the crisis of identity, which is inextricably linked to crises in other areas of society, such as the healthcare system.
Pyszczynski, Tom. “What Are We So Afraid of? A Terror Management Theory Perspective on the Politics of Fear.” Social Research, vol. 71, no. 4, 2004, pp. 827-48.
In the article, the author studies the theory of fear and analyzes why people are afraid of what they are afraid of. It is noted that people will do anything to avoid feelings of fear and anxiety, and will make every effort to suppress these powerful feelings. The author argues that fear and anxiety are inherent states, and highlights anxiety as an emotion characteristic only of people. The book is interesting in terms of research, as the author proposes to analyze how and why anxiety arises, which can be useful for adequate management during a crisis.
Singh, Bhupen. Crisis and Communication: Mapping the Mediated Public Sphere. Mass Media, 2021.
This scholarly article relates directly to the topic at hand, presenting a critique of information policy during the coronavirus pandemic. The author condemns the spread of propaganda and misinformation, a phenomenon that was called the ‘infodemic.’ Equally important, the author emphasized the strengthening of authoritarian tendencies in society, which were covered by concern for health. These trends also included the imposition of a state of emergency and the restriction of freedom of speech. The article is relevant to the study, as it provides facts and analytics about the pandemic and the response to it.
Specter, Bert. “There Is No Such Thing as a Crisis: A Critique of an Alternative to the Dominant Crisis Management Model.” Journal of Contingency and Crisis Management, vol. 27, no. 3, 2019, pp. 274-79.
The author of the article proposes an alternative model of responding to crises, and, seeking to eliminate the reasons for authoritarian behavior, derives the concept of urgency, which is being applied by leaders as representatives of power. It is noted that the concept of urgency should not be legal in itself, but should have objective prerequisites. This article is relevant for the study, as it reinforces the argument about the negative impact of the authoritarian approach to state information policy and crisis response policies.
Trachsler, Tara, and Wouter Jong. “Crisis Management in Times of COVID-19: Game, Set or Match?” Journal of Contingency and Crisis Management, vol. 28, no. 4, 2020, pp. 485-486.
Scholars analyze crisis management using the metaphor of an elite sport and apply relevant ideas. The authors emphasize that society pays insufficient attention to the role of individual participants and team interaction, criticizing the bureaucracy with its procedures and responsibilities. The article is relevant for the study, as it analyzes the most optimal ways to respond to the crisis of the coronavirus pandemic. Equally important, the use of sports analogies allows other non-traditional analogies to be used to develop crisis response strategies.
Vidal, Renaud. “Managing Uncertainty: The Engineer, the Craftsman, and the Gardener.” Journal of Contingency and Crisis Management, vol. 23, no. 2, 2015, pp. 106-116.
The scholar uses the metaphors of an engineer, a craftsman, and a gardener as key archetypes for understanding the ambiguity of social phenomena. To quickly and adequately respond to crises, organizations should use the craftsman archetype, including in cases of firefighting. This article applies to the topic of the study, as it provides a guide to responding constructively to social crises. Like the other articles reviewed above, it emphasizes the importance of practical application of strategy and tactics to implement the required actions.
Weick, Karl E., and Kathleen M. Sutcliffe. Managing the Unexpected: Resilient Performance in an Age of Uncertainty. Jossey Bass, 2007.
In the book, the author considers the types of stunners, ranging from small oversights to global disasters. The scholars also provide an analysis of how organizations operate in times of crisis, with a focus on their functions and structure. The authors give examples of responding to crises and surprises in hospitals, fire departments, and flight control. The book is relevant for research, as it informs about methods of responding to crises.
Weick, Karl E. “Ambiguity as Grasp: The Reworking of Sense.” Journal of Contingency and Crisis Management, vol. 23, no. 2, 2015, pp. 117-123.
This article reveals the topic of ambiguity as a phenomenon. The author proposes to include abstract perception for a better understanding of reality and the ambiguity included in it. Ambiguity is understood as the bidirectionality discussed earlier in the context of information media communication. In other words, ambiguity and the ability to understand it can be seen either as self-immersed bidirectionality of communication or as an independent parameter of self-immersion. Remarkably, ambiguity cannot be present in the planes of communication unified by the narcissistic culture of consumption and is a sign of healthy communication. Interestingly, ambiguity is very difficult to fake or imitate, as it usually involves imprints of information that are too unique for each instance of information transfer. Within the framework of the study, respect for ambiguity may indicate a rejection of authoritarian approaches in responding to crises, including within organizations or at the state level.
Williams, Trenton A., et al. “Organization Response to Adversity: Fusing Crisis Management and Resilience Research Streams.” Academy of Management Annals, vol. 11, no. 2, 2017, pp. 733-769.
In this article, the author discusses ways to respond to and overcome adversity, including unique approaches to crisis management. The crisis is opposed to sustainability and is seen in the context of organizations. The scholars also introduce the notion of ‘the dark side of resilience’, analogous to critiques of authoritarianism or stagnation in responding to crises. This article is relevant within the scope of the study as it explores the dynamics of the interaction between crisis and resilience, which applies to the analysis of response strategies in private companies and public institutions such as hospitals.
Works Cited
Barton, Michelle A., et al. “Performing under Uncertainty: Contextualized Engagement in Wildland Firefighting.” Journal of Contingency and Crisis Management, vol. 23, no. 2, 2015, pp. 74-83.
Barton, Michelle A., and William A. Kahn. “Group Resilience: The Place and Meaning of Relational Pauses.” Organization Studies, vol. 40, no. 9, 2019), pp. 1409-1429.
Baumann, Zygmunt. Liquid Fear. John Wiley & Sons, 2013.
Frieden, Tom. “Which Countries Have Responded Best to Covid-19?”The Wall Street Journal, Web.
Han, Byung-Chul. The Burnout Society. Stanford Briefs, 2015.
Han, Byung-Chul. The Disappearance of Rituals: A Topology of the Present. John Wiley & Sons, 2020.
Han, Byung-Chul. The Expulsion of the Other: Society, Perception and Communication Today. John Wiley & Sons, 2018.
Heide, Mats, and Charlotte Simonsson. Internal Crisis Communication: Crisis Awareness, Leadership, and Coworkership. Routledge, 2019.
Li, Qing. Immersive Communication: The Communication Paradigm of the Third Media Age. Routledge, 2020.
Mitroff, Ian, and Can Alpaslan. Swans, Swine, and Swindlers. Stanford University Press, 2011.
Nietzsche, Friedrich. Twilight of Idols. Penguin, 1968.
Pyszczynski, Tom. “What Are We So Afraid of? A Terror Management Theory Perspective on the Politics of Fear.” Social Research, vol. 71, no. 4, 2004, pp. 827-48.
Singh, Bhupen. Crisis and Communication: Mapping the Mediated Public Sphere. Mass Media, 2021.
Specter, Bert. “There Is No Such Thing as a Crisis: A Critique of an Alternative to the Dominant Crisis Management Model.” Journal of Contingency and Crisis Management, vol. 27, no. 3, 2019, pp. 274-79.
Trachsler, Tara, and Wouter Jong. “Crisis Management in Times of COVID-19: Game, Set or Match?” Journal of Contingency and Crisis Management, vol. 28, no. 4, 2020, pp. 485-486.
Vidal, Renaud. “Managing Uncertainty: The Engineer, the Craftsman, and the Gardener.” Journal of Contingency and Crisis Management, vol. 23, no. 2, 2015, pp. 106-116.
Williams, Trenton A., et al. “Organization Response to Adversity: Fusing Crisis Management and Resilience Research Streams.” Academy of Management Annals, vol. 11, no. 2, 2017, pp. 733-769.
Weick, Karl E., and Kathleen M. Sutcliffe. Managing the Unexpected: Resilient Performance in an Age of Uncertainty. Jossey Bass, 2007.
Weick, Karl E. “Ambiguity as Grasp: The Reworking of Sense.” Journal of Contingency and Crisis Management, vol. 23, no. 2, 2015, pp. 117-123.