Communicating crisis: How culture influences image repair in Western and Asian governments
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to seek to understand the differences in image repair strategies adopted by two governments that operate in the Western and Asian societies when faced with similar crises. Design/methodology/approach: Textual analyses are presented of communication of Hurricane...
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2011
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sg-smu-ink.lkcsb_research-70312019-07-23T08:32:50Z Communicating crisis: How culture influences image repair in Western and Asian governments LOW, Yvonne Siew‐Yoong VARUGHESE, Jeni PANG, Augustine Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to seek to understand the differences in image repair strategies adopted by two governments that operate in the Western and Asian societies when faced with similar crises. Design/methodology/approach: Textual analyses are presented of communication of Hurricane Katrina and Typhoon Morakot by the Taiwanese and US governments, respectively. Findings: Faced with similar accusations of slow response, the Asian culture, represented by the Taiwanese Government, used predominantly mortification and corrective action strategies. The Western culture, represented by the US Government, used predominantly bolstering and defeasibility and a mixed bag of other strategies such as shifting the blame and attack the accuser. Research limitations/implications: A limitation of the study is that it depends on news reports, instead of news releases and speeches, for analysis. However, given the rapidity and volatility in the unfolding drama of each of the two crises, many of the comments made were to the media and not in prepared speeches. It is a limitation the authors accept. Practical implications: Strategies reflected Hofstede's uncertainty avoidance and power distance dimensions. These dimensions should be considered when designing communication strategies in different cultures so as to be culturally sensitive and relevant. Originality/value: Few, if any, studies on image repair theory have addressed the role of culture in strategies used. This study fills the gap by integrating Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory. 2011-08-01T07:00:00Z text application/pdf https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/6032 info:doi/10.1108/13563281111156880 https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/lkcsb_research/article/7031/viewcontent/13563281111156880.pdf http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business eng Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Case studies Communication management Crisis management Cross-cultural management Disaster management Government policy National cultures Rhetoric Taiwan United States of America Asian Studies Business and Corporate Communications Health Communication |
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Case studies Communication management Crisis management Cross-cultural management Disaster management Government policy National cultures Rhetoric Taiwan United States of America Asian Studies Business and Corporate Communications Health Communication LOW, Yvonne Siew‐Yoong VARUGHESE, Jeni PANG, Augustine Communicating crisis: How culture influences image repair in Western and Asian governments |
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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to seek to understand the differences in image repair strategies adopted by two governments that operate in the Western and Asian societies when faced with similar crises. Design/methodology/approach: Textual analyses are presented of communication of Hurricane Katrina and Typhoon Morakot by the Taiwanese and US governments, respectively. Findings: Faced with similar accusations of slow response, the Asian culture, represented by the Taiwanese Government, used predominantly mortification and corrective action strategies. The Western culture, represented by the US Government, used predominantly bolstering and defeasibility and a mixed bag of other strategies such as shifting the blame and attack the accuser. Research limitations/implications: A limitation of the study is that it depends on news reports, instead of news releases and speeches, for analysis. However, given the rapidity and volatility in the unfolding drama of each of the two crises, many of the comments made were to the media and not in prepared speeches. It is a limitation the authors accept. Practical implications: Strategies reflected Hofstede's uncertainty avoidance and power distance dimensions. These dimensions should be considered when designing communication strategies in different cultures so as to be culturally sensitive and relevant. Originality/value: Few, if any, studies on image repair theory have addressed the role of culture in strategies used. This study fills the gap by integrating Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory. |
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LOW, Yvonne Siew‐Yoong VARUGHESE, Jeni PANG, Augustine |
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LOW, Yvonne Siew‐Yoong VARUGHESE, Jeni PANG, Augustine |
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LOW, Yvonne Siew‐Yoong |
title |
Communicating crisis: How culture influences image repair in Western and Asian governments |
title_short |
Communicating crisis: How culture influences image repair in Western and Asian governments |
title_full |
Communicating crisis: How culture influences image repair in Western and Asian governments |
title_fullStr |
Communicating crisis: How culture influences image repair in Western and Asian governments |
title_full_unstemmed |
Communicating crisis: How culture influences image repair in Western and Asian governments |
title_sort |
communicating crisis: how culture influences image repair in western and asian governments |
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Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University |
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2011 |
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https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/6032 https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/lkcsb_research/article/7031/viewcontent/13563281111156880.pdf |
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