
Crisis Longevity in the Digital Age
What if the very forces that magnify a crisis in the public eye—namely round-the-clock news and social media—also hasten its disappearance from collective memory? In this paper, we weave together real-time market data, in-depth media analysis, and established crisis communication frameworks to reveal how rapid, high-stakes corporate scandals can flare up and then fade more quickly than ever before. Yet beneath the surface, reputational damage still lingers, placing a premium on strategic, transparent communication. By examining case studies across industries and crisis types, we uncover why today’s information overload might shorten a crisis’s most dramatic phase even as it requires organizations to work harder and longer to rebuild trust.

Lessons from Illicit Arms Sales
The defense sector operates under intense scrutiny due to its involvement in arms manufacturing and global security. Companies in this industry face reputational risks from regulatory violations, ethical concerns, and international scrutiny over arms sales. This case study examines how a leading European defense manufacturer faced a crisis related to illegal arms sales and regulatory violations, exploring its crisis management strategies, stakeholder response, and long-term reputation recovery efforts.

Running on Fumes
Corporate crises in the automotive industry can rapidly escalate, causing profound financial and reputational damage. Effective crisis communication and robust reputation management strategies are essential to navigating these challenges successfully. This anonymized case study examines the critical lessons learned from a major emissions scandal involving manipulated diesel engine emissions data, focusing primarily on crisis communication and reputation recovery.