HomeAbstract of 8th-bmeconfUncertainty Avoidance and Crisis Management: Theoretical Insights into Cultural Dynamics in Navigating Crises

Uncertainty Avoidance and Crisis Management: Theoretical Insights into Cultural Dynamics in Navigating Crises

Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Applied Research in Business, Management and Economics

Year: 2025

DOI:

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Uncertainty Avoidance and Crisis Management: Theoretical Insights into Cultural Dynamics in Navigating Crises

Andrian Gaju

 

ABSTRACT:

Cultural dimensions deeply influence crisis management, particularly uncertainty avoidance, which shapes how organizations respond to crises. This paper explores the impact of uncertainty avoidance on crisis leadership, decision-making, and organizational resilience, drawing on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory and the GLOBE framework. Cultures with high levels of uncertainty avoidance emphasize structured crisis management strategies, risk mitigation, and adherence to formal protocols, whereas cultures with low levels of uncertainty avoidance favor flexibility, adaptive decision-making, and calculated risk-taking. By analyzing theoretical insights and existing literature, this study highlights the necessity of culturally intelligent crisis leadership, particularly in multinational organizations operating across diverse cultural contexts. The paper proposes that effective crisis management must balance structure and adaptability, tailored to cultural expectations. It also underscores the role of leadership styles, communication strategies, and organizational agility in crisis response, providing practical insights for global business leaders. Despite the robustness of existing cultural frameworks, gaps remain in empirical validation and industry-specific applications of uncertainty avoidance in crisis management. Future research should integrate real-world case studies, qualitative assessments, and empirical testing to refine crisis management strategies across different cultural environments. This paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on cultural intelligence in crisis management, offering a conceptual foundation for organizations seeking to enhance resilience, preparedness, and strategic crisis leadership in an era of global uncertainty.

keywords: Crisis management, uncertainty avoidance, cultural intelligence, Hofstede framework, GLOBE study