Organizations face an array of risks that may escalate to crises. Strategic communication regarding both potential risks and emergent crises is paramount for organizational sustainability. Risk and crisis communication is an art – not a recipe. Organizational risks and crises stem from a complex combination of variables, individual decision makers, and varying emotional states connected by communication.

This e-book explores the complex process of organizational risk identification, risk conversion into crises, and ethical communicative approaches therein. Grounded in a comprehensive communication theory foundation, readers will: (a) explore risk and crisis typologies; (b) consider the intersection of organizational mission, stakeholders, and contextual influence variables; (c) develop communicative processes; and (d) engage critical thinking skills necessary to respond to emergent risk and crisis communication challenges.

1. Risk and Crisis Communication Overview
   1. Introduction
   2. Communication Complexities
   3. Risk and Crisis Communication
   4. Mapping the Risk and Crisis Communication Terrain
   5. References
2. Communication
   1. What is Communication?
   2. Levels of Communication
   3. Theoretical Perspectives
   4. Symbolic Nature of Communication
   5. Messages
   6. Channels
   7. Importance of Communication
   8. References
3. Perspectives on Organizing
   1. Organizational Communication
   2. Relational Strategies to Organizing
   3. Systems Thinking
   4. Summary
   5. References
4. Risk
   1. What is Risk?
   2. Types of Risk
   3. Assessing Risk
   4. Managing Risk
   5. Why is Risk Relevant?
   6. References
5. Crisis
   1. What is a Crisis?
   2. Characteristics of a Crisis
   3. Preparing for a Crisis
   4. Summary
   5. References
6. Metaphorical Duct Tape
   1. Organizational Dysfunction
   2. A Recent Anecdote
   3. Organizations as Machines
   4. Socially Constructed Nature of Human Existence
   5. Dialogue and Human Existence
   6. Metaphorical Duct Tape
   7. References
7. Principles of Effective Risk and Crisis Communication
   1. Effective Risk and Crisis Communication
   2. Variables of Influence
   3. Communicative Needs of Risk and Crisis Situations
   4. Theories of Organizational Crisis Communication
   5. References
8. What is at Stake?
   1. Identifying and Engaging Stakeholders
   2. Return on Investment
   3. Identifying Potential Consequences
   4. References
9. Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan
   1. The Critical Role of Planning
   2. Strategic Advance Planning
   3. Organizational Members’ Talents Not Job Titles
   4. Continuous Process and Implementation Evaluation
   5. References
10. Plan Components
    1. Risk and Crisis Communication Plan Overview
    2. Introduction
    3. Goal
    4. Precedents
    5. Timeframe
    6. Stakeholder Identification and Profile
    7. Communication Objectives
    8. Resources
    9. Evaluation
    10. Checklists
    11. Approval
    12. References
11. Information Dissemination
    1. Information Dissemination Process
    2. Channels
    3. Channel Selection
    4. References
12. Considering the Process Full Circle
    1. Continuous Learning and Renewal
    2. The Quest for Identity
    3. The Art of Communication
    4. Onward and Upward
    5. The White Space and Authenticity
    6. References