Term
| What were the threats to Exxon's image? |
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Definition
- Bad news emerged daily
- Capt charged with setting Valdez on automated pilot in confined water, set potentially risky course, and left ship in inexperience third mate's hands.
- Suspicions of Capts. intoxication
- Complaints about the way Exxon was cleaning up the oil spill
- Media stories about the destruction of evidence by Exxon broke news headlines
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Term
| What were Exxon's Problems with Valdez |
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Definition
1. Threat to image from oil sill is not as seriousas appears
2. Exxon's leagal and moral obligations to clean up the mess were not reasonably met. |
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Term
| Why was the threat to the oil spill not as serious as appears? |
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Definition
| People realize that accidents do happen, so this may have been a maneageable threat to Exon's image. |
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Term
| How were Exxon's leagal and moral obligations to clean up the mess not reasonably met? |
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Definition
- Not prepared to handle the disaster
- Inadequate supplies
- Aleyska barge out of service for repairs
- Loaded barge with wrong equipment
- First full emergency crew did not arrive.
- Crew members playing poker
- Containment plan required encirclement of spill withing five hours- Exxxon spent 35 hrs.
- After five days fewer than 4000 of the 240000 barrels had been recovered.
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Term
| Was the Exxon's discourse effective? |
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Definition
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Term
| What shifting of blame was effective? |
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Definition
| Shifting it to the captain, but then Exxon was still responsible for hiring him. |
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Term
| What shifting of the blame was not effective? |
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Definition
| Shifting the blame to Alaska official was not successful |
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Term
| Was bolstering effective? |
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Definition
| No, contradicted by the company's apparent lack of concern for the ineffectual cleanup |
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Term
| Was corrective action effective? |
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Definition
| They were vague and undermined by the ineffectual cleanup efforts. |
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Term
| Does public opinion show success? |
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Definition
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Term
Implications:
Will defensive discourse always work? |
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Definition
No, especially when executives fail to take swift and appropriate action.
- When company's actions are fitting, defensive dicourse can emphasize them on company behalf. |
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Term
| Was shifting the blame and minimization the right course of action? |
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Definition
- It was a mistake.
- Exon should have attempted to shift blame to person or factors over which Exxon had no control.
- Minimization should not be expected to restore image after media reports. |
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Term
| What would have been a good strategy? |
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Definition
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Term
| What does hiding behind lies do? |
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Definition
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