Complacency and crisis management in large organizations

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the nature and importance of crises management in large organizations. The paper highlights factors that lead to complacency in large organizations and the dialectic relationship between complacency and crises.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews current crises, especially at General Motors. It refers to recent debates on the state of management crises and the failure of some large corporations to tackle these crises effectively.

Findings

The paper differentiates between complacency and crisis and clarifies how the first leads to crisis. The paper, too, underscores that crisis should not only be viewed from an economic perspective. Rather, its social cost in today’s world must also be considered.

Originality/value

The paper provides unique perspectives on the link between complacency and crises and explores avenues to prevent crises or neutralize their impact should they take place.

Citation

Ali, A. (2014), "Complacency and crisis management in large organizations", International Journal of Commerce and Management, Vol. 24 No. 4, pp. 274-278. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCoMA-07-2014-0085