Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-2012

Abstract

In the past two decades, organizational scholars have focused significant attention on how organizations manage crises. While most of these studies concentrate on crisis prevention, there is a growing emphasis on crisis response. Because information that is critical to crisis response may become outdated as crisis conditions change, crisis response research recognizes that the management of information flows and networks is critical to crisis response. Yet despite its importance, little is known about the various types of crisis information networks and the role of IT in enabling these information networks. Employing concepts from information flow and social network theories, this paper contributes to crisis management research by developing four crisis response information network prototypes. These networks are based on two main dimensions: (1) information flow intensity and (2) network density. We describe how considerations of these two dimensions with supporting case evidence yield four prototypical crisis information response networks: Information Star, Information Pyramid, Information Forest, and Information Black-out. In addition, we examine the role of IT within each information network structure. We conclude with guidelines for managers to deploy appropriate information networks during crisis response and with suggestions for future research related to IT and crisis management.

Keywords

Crisis Response, Information Networks, Role of IT, Information Flow, Network Density

Discipline

Databases and Information Systems | Information Security

Research Areas

Accounting Information System

Publication

Journal of the Association for Information Systems

Volume

13

Issue

1

First Page

31

Last Page

56

ISSN

1536-9323

Identifier

10.17705/1jais.00283

Publisher

Association for Information Systems

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00283

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