Elucidating the Conceptual Model of Crisis Communication Management in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance: An Approach Based on Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT)

Abstract

Strategic communication management in macro-economic crises, particularly in the face of structural challenges and sanctions, serves as a decisive factor in safeguarding organizational reputation and public trust. Given the paucity of indigenous models in this domain, the present research aims to design a conceptual model for crisis communication management in the Iranian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, grounded in the Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT). The research methodology employs a “systematic review” of theoretical literature; through a structured search in international citation databases spanning from 2010 to 2025 and the application of rigorous screening criteria, 20 selected articles were identified and analyzed to extract and synthesize the model’s components. The findings culminated in a comprehensive framework organized into four main dimensions: first, identifying crisis clusters (victim, accidental, and intentional) to determine the level of responsibility; second, adopting appropriate response strategies, including denial, diminishment, and rebuilding; third, incorporating moderating factors such as crisis history and prior reputation; and fourth, managing the temporal cycle across preparedness, rapid response, and learning phases. Based on the results, implementing this model—with a focus on the pivotal role of public relations in guiding news flows and preventive scenario planning—not only reduces uncertainty and rumors but also enhances the Ministry’s capacity to transform communication threats into opportunities for reputation rebuilding, thereby providing a scientific mechanism for the transition from reactive measures to intelligent crisis management.