Krishantering inom kunskapsföretag

Sammanfattning: In an increasingly complex world more and more experts are hired. These experts advise others in everything from IT to marketing and also in how to deal with crisis. However, in order to be able to advice someone else in a matter, shouldn't the company itself already have the best practice in place? The purpose of this thesis is to shed light on crisis management within PSFs in Sweden, based on organizational characteristics of a PSF. Further more study how crisis management is structured and generated amongst these. The method of the study is an iterative process. First engaging in a literature study with formulation of four propositions, followed by a smaller pre study as well as a larger main study consisting of a total of 9 interviews with lawyers. The propositions the study addresses and attempt to explain are the following; P1: Law firms have established and tested crisis management, containing strategies for solidarity within the firm as well as strategies to maintain the firms image at at time of crisis. P2: Law firms are weaker as the lawyer is first and foremost working for the client, trusteeship norm, this influences the firm's crisis management. P3: Law firms are being run with informal leadership processes, therefor also the crisis management is being run informally. This is enabled as there is no external owners with other demands on the organization, which gives the law firm the ability to, in a time of crisis, act more freely. P4: As there is a lot of information going back and forth between the client and the lawyer it is harder for a client, at a time of crisis, replace a lawyer. Proposition 2 and 3 held whereas proposition 1 and 4 proved to be partly incorrect. As for proposition 1, 3 out of 22 included law firms had established crisis management. These firms where larger, had more than one office and operated internationally. As for proposition 4, what makes a client keep his lawyer is based on trust and the relationship rather than the amount of information shared. The main findings of the study are that only 3 out of 22 studied law firms have a crisis management plan yet 3 out of 4 lawyers believe that there would be of value to have one, even if it would be restricted to deal only with certain parts of the crisis. Further more law firms engage, in what the study names, informal crisis management. Meaning that they first gather comprehensive information, gather the right decision making group and then act. They do this due to a strong belief in their own expertise and are able to do so as there is no external ownership.