Crisis management approaches for European modern critical infrastructure

Abstract

This paper explores crisis management practices across six organisations operating critical infrastructure in Europe, including sectors such as healthcare, energy, finance, aviation and rail transport. Through a comparative case study approach, it identifies both shared principles and context-specific solutions in crisis preparedness and response. The paper highlights how external threats, such as natural hazards, cyber incidents and violent attacks, intersect with internal structural challenges, such as communication inefficiencies and outdated alert systems. Each case study illustrates how organisations developed tailored crisis management structures, often supported by digitised communication tools, early warning systems and defined escalation pathways. The paper emphasises the importance of predefined roles, realistic training exercises and the ability to remain operational during large-scale disruptions. A key finding is that while organisations share a set of core good practices, including flexibility, structured response and continuous training, their crisis management strategies are shaped by specific operational contexts. The cases reveal different degrees of involvement of senior leadership, centralisation and use of technology. The paper offers practical takeaways for crisis management professionals and proposes avenues for future research, including further cross-sector comparisons and thematic studies on response to specific disruptions such as extreme weather or cyberattacks. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.