Crisis management and response

A crisis situation can disrupt operations, damage reputations, destroy shareholder value, and trigger other threats. As the business community has learned through the pandemic, it’s more important than ever for leaders to anticipate and plan for the possibility of an unplanned event in order to build resilience. The more prepared you are to manage shocks, the less likely you’ll fall victim to the serious harm a crisis has the potential to inflict.

96% of organizations have experienced disruption in the past two years

Source: PwC’s Global Crisis and Resilience Survey 2023

PwC’s Global Crisis and Resilience Survey 2023

Our 2023 survey focused on understanding today’s threats and how organizations focus their resources, efforts and investments to become more resilient.

Find out how organizations reacted, what they’ve learned and how they’re preparing for what’s next.

Read global insights

How does your business respond when crisis becomes the new normal?

A well-run business should have a crisis plan. But nothing tests the theory quite like reality.

When crisis strikes, a three-wave response will help you regain your footing - and emerge stronger, more resilient, and prepared for the next crisis.

Mobilize

A dedicated crisis management team to lead the response

As businesses continue to respond to new and emerging threats, our crisis management process can help you navigate the uncertainty.

PwC’s team has extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of crisis management - from a crisis project management office (PMO) to insights and scenario planning, to timely and targeted crisis communications.

Stabilize

Turning challenges into opportunities

The role of crisis management and its programs does not disappear in the stabilize wave of the three-wave crisis model. With this support, business leaders can win back one of their most vital commodities: the space to think and make the right decisions with confidence.

Having a crisis command center is essential to manage logistical and strategic challenges and provide up-to-date, fact-based information to senior leadership and all employees. It will be the role of the crisis command center to ensure all stakeholders, from customers and suppliers to the board, are informed about decisions. If you already have a crisis command center in place, now is a good time to assess its pain points and make adjustments as needed.

Our crisis management solutions can help you maintain control of the various aspects of your crisis response. You’ll be prepared to tackle crises with confidence and clarity, and you will emerge stronger.

Strategize

Emerge stronger, sooner and more resilient

There should always be an eye to the future.

After you've successfully mobilized and stabilized, it's time to strategize for the long-term. The first step is to revisit your crisis response, identifying lessons learned and opportunities for improvement. And the next step is to invest in strengthening your response capabilities—so you're prepared for future events.

Our crisis management team can work with you to assess your preparedness level and identify your long-term goals. We'll help you strategize to emerge from the crisis stronger than before.
In the wake of any crisis, the most successful organizations are those that invested in learning lessons, implementing changes, and leveraging opportunities.

How PwC can help:

In a crisis, companies instinctively go into a reactive state: Whatever comes at you, you try to swat away. But playing defense doesn’t set you up to emerge stronger. Ready Command, PwC’s integrated crisis command center, can help your organization execute a methodical, strategic response, beginning on day one with the implementation of a clear governance structure. As you navigate the crisis, we continuously monitor and assess progress, recommending adjustments accordingly. Ready Command provides the foundation for you to prioritize and address each challenge—and emerge stronger.

Contact us

Ryan Murphy

Ryan Murphy

Partner, Global Investigations & Forensics Leader, PwC US

David Stainback

David Stainback

US Territory Crisis & Resilience Leader, PwC US