Exploring Crisis History’s Impacts: How Organizations’ Previous Crises Impact Current Crisis Perceptions

Eaddy illuminates the concept of crisis history by unpacking the dynamics within and around what we call “crisis history.” Eaddy posits that crisis history considerations are integral for proactive crisis communication. While much of the public view of crisis communication and management are the reactive responses to a crisis, this chapter considers the proactive element of crisis communication and management. While much of the proactive crisis communication work is internal to organizational planning, Eaddy argues that influential crisis history factors can provide insight into how salient crisis history impacts various stakeholder groups. The chapter is an important step in crisis communication that links the organization, crisis history, and stakeholders. Eaddy's position is that crisis history salience considerations can inform and enhance crisis management strategies. The chapter provides new insights into understanding how crisis history can affect the crisis communication process.