Provocative products, the boomerang effect, the shooting star crisis and the panacea of workforce diversity

Abstract

PurposeThe present article focuses on crises that arise from provocative advertisement images and products and introduces the shooting star crisis. Moreover, it aims to shed some light on the interconnection between the boomerang effect, crisis, crisis management and workforce diversity.Design/methodology/approachBy examining the cases of two leading organizations of the fashion industry that found themselves involved in crises and how they confronted them, it seeks to explore whether investments in workforce diversity is a solution for these problems.FindingsSometimes provocative products and images that intend to spark customers' imagination can backfire and initiate a crisis. Based on the findings, organizations that admit their wrongdoing and react promptly to their stakeholders' demands tend to overcome a crisis relatively faster than organizations with passive behavior. By understanding the need for a proactive approach, fashion organizations can evade future crises and avoid creating products or images that can be perceived as racist and invoke public outrage. Additionally, the study revealed that workforce diversity initiatives can mitigate a crisis and its aftermath.Originality/valueIts novelty is that it deals with the interrelationship between boomerang effect, crisis, crisis management and workforce diversity. Moreover, it introduces a new type of crisis, the shooting star crisis, in order to capture new crises that emerge in modern era, as a result of the extensive power of modern social media.

Lessons in Crisis Leadership from 9/11: Delineating the constituents of Crisis Leadership and their utilization in the context of Covid-19

“…They optimize their preoccupation with failure as a turning point in their lives and their way of thinking, and they do not hesitate to admit past mistakes. Contrary to many beliefs, failure can be viewed as an essential lesson and the ultimate key to success (Cole, 1994;Nizamidou andVouzas, 2020, 2021). For example, Scott, and MS in general, learned from their late response and prolonged evacuation during the 1993 WTC bombing; as per the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's official website, MS took four hours that day to evacuate its employees (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2020).…”

“…Tracey and Phillips (2016) argue that leaders contribute significantly to reframing the meaning of crisis, aiming to restore organizational identity. Learning from past crises can promote knowledge and contribute to the redesign of current crisis management plans and procedures (Mitroff, 2005;Nizamidou andVouzas, 2018, 2020). According to Wu et al (2021), crisis leadership indicates "a leadership process around times of crisis, including times immediately prior to crises, the duration of crises as they unfold, and times immediately after the acute consequences of crises" (Wu et al, 2021: 3).…”

“…Additionally, using archival records and documentation as sources of evidence, researchers can take advantage of the fact that they can systematically review their data and that the data will be "exact" and "precise" (Yin, 1994). Consequently, numerous researchers have used secondary data to analyze a case study (Antonacopoulou et al, 2017;Antonacopoulou et al, 2020;Mann, 2012;Nizamidou, 2023;Oliver et al, 2017;Seeger et al, 2003;Wang and Hutchins, 2010). As per Yin's (1994) suggestions, a case study database was developed to enhance the present study's reliability.…”

Evidence of construct validity for work values using triangulation analysis

“…Methodologically, this study adds to the emergent literature on business research that stresses the importance of triangulation analysis to enhance the reliability and validity of the findings (e.g. Nizamidou, 2023). In this sense, the study is innovative because the construct validity and reliability of the proposed work values typology have been accomplished using a multiple triangulation approach that combines both data and withinmethod triangulation.…”

“…The implicit assumption in triangulation analysis is that, by using a combination of perspectives, investigators, methods, and/or data sources, the researcher can provide a more accurate and valid interpretation of the concept under investigation. Triangulation is, therefore, considered an innovative method of analysis in business research, capable of developing a consolidated picture of the topic under investigation (del Vecchio et al, 2022;Nizamidou, 2023).…”