Term
| What happened with the UC |
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Definition
1984- A union carbide chemical plant released a cloud of poisonous gas in Bhopal, India
- Over 2000 killed
- Media depictions were graphic
- Indian gov. charged the UC Chairman with homicide and intiated extradition
- UC reaction began with Chairman visit to Bhopal five days later.
- UC was linked with thousands of deaths.
-Onewek |
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Term
| What were the strategies used by UC |
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Definition
Bolstering
Corrective Action
Shifting the blame
Differentiation |
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Term
| How did UC Bolster its image? |
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Definition
- UC expresses shock from entire corporation
- UC promises full cooperation to tech. teams assigned by authorities to investigate causes
- Expresses "sincere condolonces"
- Ending that "the suffering caused this tragedy shall be mitigated ass early as possible"
- Chairman attempts to get to Bhopal quickly was highly visible consistent with the statement use of bolstering.
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Term
| Did the arrest help the bolstering efforts? |
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Definition
| No, it suggested he was at fault and brought sympathy. |
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Term
| What does expressing shock from entire coorperation do to bolster the image? |
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Definition
Bolsters image
Subtly denies that the company was responsible.
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Term
| What does the UC promise full cooperation to tech. teams do? |
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Definition
_ Bolsters image as innocent party with nothing to hide
- Reinforces impression with having USA help |
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Term
| What four things did UC do to have corrective action? |
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Definition
1. Contribute to relief fund
2. Establish an orphanage
3. Provide medical supplies
4. Provide medical assistance
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Term
| What additional things did UC do to provide medical assistance? |
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Definition
- Provide medical personnel in addition to supplies
- Brings in medical experts from overseas
-Provision of medical personnel that will use medical supplies. |
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Term
| How did the UC shift the blame? |
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Definition
States "it is regrettable that owing to certain unexpected developments, there has been some delay in giving info to the press and public."
- This bolsters image
- undercuts any impressions that the company deliberately withheld company
- Never attempts to shift blame for the tragedy to itself. |
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Term
| How did UC use Differentiation? |
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Definition
- Recognizes compensation as a complex issue.
- Reinforces the company's image by indication its desire for a speedy resolution.
- Declares that it hope compensation can be decided as soon as possible
-Postponing compensation help avoid the stigma of guilt that may accompany it. |
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Term
Evaluation:
What is it important to do? |
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Definition
| - It is important to admit fault and immediatly accept responsability. |
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Term
| What can damage credibility? |
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Definition
| Intially denying then accepting blame damages. |
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Term
| What does clearing responsability for the death and injuries? |
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Definition
| Th Bhopal tragedy does not explicityly accept responsability. |
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Term
| How could they have shifted the blame? |
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Definition
| They could have shifted the blame to faulty equipment. |
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Term
| What are two factors to undermine effectivness? |
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Definition
1. Statement made no effort to assure people that this sort of tragedy would not happen again.
2. Use of differentitaion concerning one corrective action (voluntary contribution vs. compensation) had drawbacks. |
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Term
| What defensive statements provide a good example of how IR strategies can reinforce one another. |
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Definition
- Bolstering portrayd company concerned for victims
- Corrective action reinforcedimage of concerned company
- 4 corrective actions helped alleviate the effects of tragedy. |
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Term
| What are the implications the UC situation |
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Definition
- Demonstrates how strategies interact favorably
- Important to provide plans to prevent the problem
- image interests may have been better served by an admission of guilt
- Salience of harm to the audience is a factor in IR efforts. |
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