Dealing with a Product-Harm Crisis in a Corporation

A Product-Harm Crisis can mean the end of a corporation. A Product-Harm Crisis (although considered to be low in probability of occurring), may have severe consequences for a company if not handled properly. For this reason, potential risks associated with a product should be monitored on a continual basis. So much that - without warning, a Product- Harm Crisis can progress into a catastrophic incident that can quickly destroy a business’ future. Since, crises are often difficult to anticipate and prevent (Vassilikopoulou, Lepetsos, Siomkos, Chatzipanagiotou, 2008). Indeed, a Crisis Communication Management Plan is necessary, as it assists in monitoring and detecting potential risks associated with a product. Equally important is that a Crisis Communication Management Plan includes a strategic communication –blue print- crucial in a Product- Harm Crisis incident. And so, the goal of this paper is to explain factors contributing to a Product-Harm Crisis and how a Crisis Management Plan is effective in the first phase of a Product-Harm Crisis incident.

Once a product is found to be malfunctioning with the potential of causing injury or death to a consumer, is when a Product- Harm Crisis has occurred. For instance, there are a few categorized instances that can define a Product- Harm Crisis. For example, natural disaster, workplace violence, rumors, malevolence, challenges, technical errors and, human error (W. T. Coombs, 2012) are just a few examples of crisis. Regardless of the threat, a crisis can indiscriminately post a substantial risk to a company’s reputation, credibility, consumer trust and financial future.

Pursuing this further- Vassilikopoulou, Lepetsos, Siomkos and Chatzipanagiotou (2009) mention four disti...

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... altogether by implementing very meticulous business processes with sufficient “checks and balances” and to react in a felicitous fashion when, despite all precautions a product crisis occurs which imperils the health of the firms customers, (p. ).

In exploring the components included in a Product-Harm Crisis and the suggested strategies in the production of a Crisis Communication Management Plan, recommended that while a Product- Harm Crisis is accepted to have a low likelihood of happening, it can advance into an emergency that might be damaging to a brand. A Crisis Management Plan turned out to be important in such a pressing position as a Product-Harm Crisis event, on the grounds that a Crisis Management Plan frameworks particular systems and strategies that will help in managing media, consumer concerns, brand, recall process (if pertinent), and so on.