40% of the world’s population today or more than 3 billion people are internet users. ("How to manage crisis communications in a digital age - Baton Rouge Business Report", 2016) With that in mind, today’s business minds must adjust how they handle crises in the digital space. The internet has called significant shifts in traditional crisis management. Audiences now have instant access to information because of the internet. Stakeholders being inclusive of employees and individuals directly affected by the organization are now highly fragmented due to the huge choice of media available online. (Gonzalez-Herrero & Smith, 2016) In addition, social platforms allow active users to effectively unite and mobilize against the organization …show more content…
Feedback is very important for any organization. Through developing a notification and monitoring system for your organization, you are able to get more direct feedback about how you are doing, how your consumers feel, and potential crisis. ("The 10 Steps of Crisis Communications | Bernstein Crisis Management", 2016)
On the contrary, when creating a crisis management strategy, the following digital space strategies should be considered create a social media, philosophy, understanding what social media channels are best for the business, identifying a social media strategist, and establishing the organization 's employee guidelines on social media. ("How to manage crisis communications in a digital age - Baton Rouge Business Report", …show more content…
E-Coli scandal. It began in Seattle, Washington on July 2015 with an E. coli outbreak affecting five people. In August 2015 in Simi Valley, California 234 people became sick due to a norovirus as the result of a sick employee. Also, during this time extending from August to September 2015 in Minnesota 64 people became sick with Salmonella Newport from tomatoes, the point of introduction is still unknown. Following this incident from October 2015 to February 2016 across nine states including California, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington 55 people became sick as a result E. coli. Also, in December 2015 up to February 2016 five people were sick due to E. coli between the states of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. Lastly, in Boston on December 2015 151 people began sick due to a norovirus, the source was a sick employee. ("UPDATED: CDC declares Chipotle E. coli outbreaks over; cause unknown | Food Safety News", 2016) Following the outbreak Chipotle’s sales and stock price have plummeted causing concerns among investors and consumers. ("Chipotle and the Cost of Crisis | Bernstein Crisis Management",