Research Seminar - "READINESS: A keystone concept beyond crisis preparedness and resilience"

• Attend the seminar online via Zoom

The newly developed READINESS model encompasses an organization's ability to effectively anticipate, respond to, and manage various forms of disruptions, including threats, conflicts, risks, crises, and crisis spillovers. Three pillars are identified as foundational for the development of READINESS: mindset, multi-level efficacy, and dynamic process. Unlike traditional crisis preparedness, which primarily focuses on developing plans and protocols before a crisis occurs, READINESS extends beyond these static measures to emphasize an organization’s dynamic capacity to anticipate and act in evolving crisis situations. This involves ensuring that organizational leaders and employees are not only psychologically and operationally prepared, but also fostering an organizational culture that prioritizes adaptability and agility in the face of uncertainty. In essence, the READINESS model highlights the importance of proactive engagement and continuous adaptation across different uncertainty-driven situations and introduces a nuanced perspective on how organizations navigate crises.

Yijing Wang, Ph.D. is a strategic communication scholar specialized in the study of crisis communication and sustainability transition. She is Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Communication at Erasmus University Rotterdam. She serves as Chair of the ECREA Risk and Crisis Communication Section, Editor-in-Chief of Corporate Reputation Review, and Editorial Board Member of Public Relations Review and Business Horizons. She is the Principal Investigator and Coordinator of the Horizon Europe project CUES (2024-2028), a Management Committee Member of the COST Action project AlertHub (2024-2028), and a member of the Crisis Communication Think Tank (CCTT).