
The sudden departure of SAP Hungary’s managing director, and the scandal that unfolded around it, once again highlighted that crisis management requires more than quick reaction. Thoughtful, well-structured and consistent communication plays an equally critical role. Without it, a company’s reputation can suffer long-term damage. This case also shows that ambiguity and vague wording often cause greater harm than the initial crisis itself. The aim of this article is not to detail the events at the company or to speculate, but to illustrate the challenges of managing a crisis rooted in organisational culture and structure.

When employees feel they are the last to know, they start looking for the exit. In our latest study, 61 % of people thinking about changing jobs said poor internal communication was a leading factor. At the same time, only 23 % of the global workforce is engaged at work, while the productivity drag from disengagement costs a typical S&P 500 company up to US $355 million every year.