A Cross-Cultural Study of Effective Organizational Crisis Response Strategy in the United States and South Korea

This study investigated the public's perception toward organizational crisis response strategies by using a 2 × 2 × 2 between-subject factorial design with level of responsibility (individual vs. organizational level), organizational response (causal and treatment responsibility), and two countries (the United States vs. South Korea). Students responded to hypothetical news stories. The results showed that students in a highly collectivistic culture had more anger, negative attitudes, and impressions toward the organization than students in a highly individualistic culture, when the organization used the individualistic-level strategy. The results suggest organizations may benefit by using a strategy in which they accept responsibilities for crises.