Internal crisis communication: Case of The Norwegian Sea Rescue Society

Abstract

This quantitative non-experimental survey-based study was a part of a large research project at the University of South-Eastern Norway “Evaluating the Covid-19 pandemic”. The purpose of the study was to investigate how The Norwegian Sea Rescue Society employees perceived the organization’s internal crisis management and internal crisis communication upon dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak and the correlation between the perceived level of crisis management and the perceived level of internal crisis communication. The sample population was comprised of The Norwegian Sea Rescue Society seafarers, and land-based employees who was/or is not involved in the crisis management process of COVID-19 and the response rate was 20%. The findings showed that the majority of the sample population was satisfied with both the internal crisis communication and crisis management in their organization upon dealing with COVID-19. They also implied a need for better communication with employees in relation to crisis management, more crisis related-courses for employees and enhanced crisis-related training for leaders/managers and employees. In addition to this, the results identified a medium positive correlation between the perceived level of internal crisis management and the perceived level of internal crisis communication. The possible research implications for this study included more focus on internal crisis communication, especially on the communicative relations between managers and employees in a crisis. While practical implications include the integration of internal crisis communication in overall crisis management plans and implementation of more crisis-related courses for employees, increased focus on training for leaders/managers on internal crisis communication and initiatives for improved learning from a crisis.