An Analysis of Communication's Role in Crisis Management in Abu Dhabi

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the role of communication in crisis management, specifically focusing on the government sectors of Abu Dhabi. It begins with an overview of crisis management, highlighting the importance of effective communication in mitigating the negative consequences of crises. The research explores the research questions to understand the role of communication in crisis management, how communication supports government sectors, and the factors responsible for crises in Abu Dhabi. A comprehensive literature review examines crisis and crisis management, the importance of communication, and the link between communication and crisis management. The report also discusses the impact of crises on government sectors, including failures in internal communication, reduced decision-making quality, and increased conflicts. It details how communication has been adopted as a practice to manage crises, spreading awareness, enhancing employee morale, and establishing healthy relationships with stakeholders. The research methodology employs an explanatory research method with a qualitative approach, using both primary and secondary data sources. The data collection involves questionnaires and internet sources, analyzed using a random sampling technique within a specified timeframe. The report concludes by emphasizing the critical role of communication in preventing and evaluating events that threaten organizational performance and reputation within the government sectors of Abu Dhabi.

RUNNING HEAD: An analysis of role of communication in crisis management - A review of
practices in government sectors of Abu Dhabi
An analysis of role of communication in crisis management - A review of
practices in government sectors of Abu Dhabi

An analysis of role of communication in crisis management - A review of practices in
government sectors of Abu Dhabi 1
Table of Contents
Overview..........................................................................................................................................2
Research questions...........................................................................................................................3
Literature review..............................................................................................................................4
Research Methodology....................................................................................................................7
Outcomes.........................................................................................................................................9
Timescale.......................................................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................13

An analysis of role of communication in crisis management - A review of practices in
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Research title: An analysis of role of communication in crisis management - A review of
practices in government sectors of Abu Dhabi
Overview
The importance of crisis management is increasing in the dynamic world so as to enhance the
functioning of the organization. Failure to manage the crisis can result in a loss to the
organization and threat to the existence of the organization. Various organizations are facing
crisis which are acting as a threat to the survival of the organization. The term crisis can be
explained as the threat to the operations of the organization which results in negative
consequences (Marra, 2013). The impact of threat or crisis can be seen on the performance of the
organization, financial loss, and loss of reputation. One of the most important factors which can
help in dealing with the crisis in a better manner is communication. Communication has played a
vital role as it has helped in coping with the crises faced by the government sectors of Abu
Dhabi. Communication is an effective approach which helps in making the employees aware of
the role they have to play for the management of the crisis (Johansen, et. al., 2012).
This research program will explain different aspects including communication and crisis
management. This research will focus on establishing a link between communication and crisis
management. The crisis has affected the government sector of Abu Dhabi in different ways.
These different ways will be discussed in this research.

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Research questions
This research program has been conducted for the purpose of analysis of the role played by
communication in the management of crises with respect to the practice in the government sector
of Abu Dhabi. Research questions for this research are mentioned below:
 What is the role played by communication in crisis management?
 How is communication as a practice supporting the government sectors of Abu Dhabi in
crisis management?
 Which factors are responsible for the crisis in the government sectors in Abu Dhabi?

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Literature review
Crisis and crisis management
Crisis are the series of the unwanted events which takes place in the workplace which can result
in negative impact on the organization and its performance. Crisis acts as a threat which causes
harm to the organization and to the employees of the organization. Government sectors are
operating with the motive to serve public and to control the operations. Crisis management has
focused on management of the risks for mitigating the harm to the performance and reputation of
the organization (Lando, 2014). Crisis management are the activities which are being performed
for the prevention and evaluation of the events which acts as a threat. Government sectors of
Abu Dhabi are facing a different crisis which needs to be dealt in an effective manner. These
crises include technological crisis, confrontation crisis, workplace violence crisis, crisis due to
rumors, malevolence crisis. All these types of the crisis have affected the performance,
reputation and financial stability of the government sectors of Abu Dhabi (Ulmer, et. al., 2010).
Importance of communication
Communication is an important element which acts as a measure for the management of the
crisis. Government sectors of Abu Dhabi are adopting communication as a practice for coping
with the crisis faced by the sectors. Communication acts as an effective approach which has
helped the government sectors to cope with the negative impacts of the crisis. Communication
must be done for the purpose of saving the reputation of the organization and dealing with the
unwanted challenges. Communication process needs to be adopted for the management of the
crisis. For the purpose of dealing with the emergency situation, effective communication is a

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must. Communication helps in engaging the employees so as to manage the crisis in a better
manner (Taylor, et. al., 2014).
Link between communication and crisis management
According to Laajalahti, et. al. (2016), the motive behind designing crisis management process is
to protect the organization and different stakeholders from the threats caused by the crisis. Crisis
management process focuses on preventing the damage caused by the crisis to the organization
and its stakeholders. Lack of communication process can result in a threat to the performance
and financial stability of the government sectors of Abu Dhabi. Communication process
contributes to the effectiveness of the information sharing process and leads to quick decision
making. Communication is an effective approach which results in encouraging a better
relationship between the different stakeholders. One of the most important reasons for choosing
communication as a practice for crisis management is to protect the reputation of the
organization and maintaining the financial stability (Stephens & Malone, 2010).
In the words of Taylor (2010), communication is an essential practice which has helped
in overcoming the crisis faced by the government sectors of Abu Dhabi. It is vital to ensure that
the flow of the information is smooth across the departments. There is a need to clearly define
the targets, objectives, roles, and responsibilities so as to overcome the adverse situations.
Effective flow of information has reduced the chances of errors or mistakes which have affected
the performance of the government sectors of Abu Dhabi. The crisis has resulted in conflicts
among the different individuals. Adopting communication as a practice for dealing with the crisis
has enhanced the decision-making process. The crisis has affected the public relations of the
government sectors of Abu Dhabi with the public or society. Government sectors have taken

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initiatives for the purpose of overcoming the crisis and its adverse impacts (Seon-Kyoung & I-
Huei, 2010).
Impact of crisis on the government sectors in Abu Dhabi
The crisis has resulted in various adverse impacts on the government sectors in Abu Dhabi. This
crisis can affect both managerial and organizational structure. These impacts of the crisis on the
government sectors in Abu Dhabi are a failure of the internal communication, centralized
authority, reduces the quality of the decision making process, reduces coordination, reduces the
flexibility of organization, affects the morale of the staff, increases chances of fraud and
corruption and increase in conflicts among the individuals (Lando, 2014).
Quality of the internal communication gets affected due to the crisis faced by the
organizations. This can be due to the availability of insufficient or improper flow of information
from outside of the organization. Government sectors of Abu Dhabi have faced this issue to the
crisis. Increase in the centralization creates an impact on the structure of the government sectors
of Abu Dhabi which has affected the decision-making process of the sectors. This delay in the
decision-making process affects the flexibility of the sector. Another negative impact of the crisis
on the government sectors is a reduction in the quality of the decision-making process (Kent,
2010).
Need of coordination increases during the time of crisis. The crisis affects the
coordination among the employees of the government sectors. Government sectors have faced
situations of uncertainty due to which flexibility of the organization has been reduced. Impact of
crisis can be seen in the morale of the employees. Adverse conditions, workload, and panic at the
workplace of the government sectors affect the behavior of the employees towards the

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organization. The crisis affects the focus of the management which can result in an increase in
the chances of fraud and corruption. Increase in conflicts among the individuals due to a decrease
in the coordination among the employees (Özdemir & Balkan, 2010).
Communication adopted as a practice by government sectors of Abu Dhabi for crisis
management
Communication has been adopted as a practice for the purpose of dealing or managing the crisis.
Communication as a practice provide guidance to the government sectors for coping with the
crisis. Communication has helped in spreading awareness among the employees as well as
enhances the morale of the employees. Effective communication has helped the government
sectors in managing the impacts of crisis in a better manner by providing relevant data or
information (Ficher, et. al., 2016). Communication will help in diagnosis of the crisis and its
impact properly. Better plans can be formulated for overcoming the impacts of the crisis.
Communication provides opportunity to the government sectors for managing the conflicts
arising due to the crisis. Government sectors have used communication for establishing healthy
relationship with the different stakeholders of the sectors (Pancic, 2010).

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Research Methodology
Research methodology is the collection of the various methods or approaches which are put to
use for the purpose of accumulation of the required data. This section develops the knowledge of
the various approaches or methods which will be applied for the accumulation of the relevant
data. Communication is an important aspect which has enhanced the process of crisis
management. These methods or approaches will ensure that reliable data will be assembled for
developing knowledge of the concept of communication and its role in managing crisis.
Research design or method: there are various research methods available which can be used for
the assembling of the data. For this research program, an explanatory method will be used.
Explanatory research method helps in exploring an area for developing knowledge of the aspects
in a better manner (Subedi, 2016). The explanatory research will ensure that the understanding of
the reasons, causes, and effects of the reasons is developed. A detailed explanation will be
provided of the different aspects of the research (Rahi, 2017). In-depth information will be
assembled so as to analyze the relationship between the communication and crisis management.
Research approach: Qualitative research approach will be adopted for the purpose of collection
of the data. The motive behind using qualitative research approach is to develop knowledge of
the various reasons, opinions, and motivation attached to the topic of the research. Better insights
of the problem will be gained with the help of qualitative research approach. This approach will
help in explaining the reason hidden behind why crisis are occurring and role of communication
in coping with the crisis faced. Different sources are being used in qualitative research approach
for the assembling of the required data. These sources include interviews, focus groups,
questionnaires, secondary sources, and observations (Smith, 2015). In this research program,

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primary sources, as well as secondary sources, will be put to use for accumulating the required
data.
Data collection: a collection of the data will be done by adopting primary and secondary
sources. Primary sources of data collection provide data directly collected from the respondents
solely for the research program. Primary data is the raw form of data and is considered less
reliable as the responses provided by the respondents are biased (Lowry, 2015). The
questionnaire will be prepared and distributed for accumulating primary data. Secondary sources
of data collection are the secondary form of data which are collected by others for their research
work. Secondary data is the second-hand data which is considered more reliable as the data is
collected and used (Johnston, 2014). Internet sources will be used for the collection of the
secondary data.
Procedures and techniques: Analysis of the assembled data will be done with the use of
random sampling technique so as to make sure that the data is analyzed within the time frame
allocated. Random sampling technique is an effective approach which provides equal
opportunity to every sample of the population of getting selected (Nishad & Sankar, 2016). This
approach helps in analysis of the data within the allocated time and analysis of the data
effectively.
Research timeframe: an action plan has been formulated on the basis of which different
activities of the research will be carried out. These research activities will be conducted as per
the time allocated so as to meet the objectives and maintaining the relevance of the research
program.

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Collection of data and targeted market: primary data will be gathered with the support of a
questionnaire. The questionnaire will be distributed among the employees of government sectors
of Abu Dhabi. Secondary data will be assembled with the help of the information available on
the internet such as on government websites, notifications, articles, and journals. For maintaining
the reliability of the secondary data, articles, journals or notifications will be used which have
been issued or published after the year 2010.
Ethical consideration: ethics plays a crucial part as ethics guide the individual towards
differentiating between right or wrong. Ethical considerations need to be considered while
conducting the research. This will make sure that the research is conducted in the right manner
by not creating harm to any individual. Ethical considerations or values which will be adopted
while executing the research include confidentiality, honesty, fairness, and unbiasedness.
Limitations: certain factors act as limitations which can affect the quality of the research. It is
essential to cope with these limitations for executing research successfully and attaining the
expected outcomes of the research. Limitations which have been identified during the execution
process of this research are the availability of limited time frame, scarcity of resources and lack
of permission to access the data. Approaches will be used for the purpose of dealing with the
limitations identified.

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Outcomes
This research program has been carried out with a motive to gather data related to the role played
by communication in managing crisis. Crisis management is an important aspect for every
organization as it create impact on the performance and existence of the organization. This
research program will develop the knowledge of the importance of communication and the
manner in can be used for the management of crisis. This research will develop knowledge
regarding the impacts of crisis on the organizations. Government sectors of Abu Dhabi have
faced crisis and for the management of the crisis, communication as an effective approach has
been followed. Knowledge will be developed regarding the link between both the aspects.
Knowledge of the various methods or approaches for data collection will be developed.