What would it take for the airline industry to zone out ?

Abstract

Firms and other organizations are dependent on the support of other groups and individuals for their continued survival (Pajunen, 2006). If an organization is considered to be illegitimate by those it relies upon for its survival, its stakeholders, they are likely to withdraw their support (Massey, 2001), making the future of the organization uncertain (Chess, 2001). An organization can be seen as legitimate if it is perceived by its stakeholders as acting appropriately, keeping to societies‟ norms and living up to the expectations of their stakeholders (Coombs & Holladay, 1996; Massey, 2001). If the activities or products of an organization can cause its stakeholders unacceptable harm, these victims and other stakeholders that sympathize with them may consider the organization to be illegitimate. The organization may experience crises, which are usually defined as chains of events that have severe consequences, damaging human lives, property, the environment or all of the above (Stephens et al., 2005). These events are also at least partially unexpected (Massey, 2001). Due to factors such as the increased reliance on advanced and sensitive technology and the increase in the number and complexity of stakeholder relationships, crises are becoming more prevalent, severe and more difficult to control in the world of today.