What is the correct sequence describing the evolution of a crisis?

What is the correct sequence describing the evolution of a crisis?

• A. Risk -> Issue -> Crisis
• B. Issue -> Risk -> Crisis
• C. Crisis -> Risk -> Issue
• D. Issue -> Crisis -> Risk

Answer: (B)

The main progression here is from a potential threat to an actual problem and then to a full-scale emergency. A risk is a possible event that could cause harm but hasn’t happened yet—it's about what might happen and what could go wrong. An issue is what you have when that threat begins to materialize or when concerns are raised that require attention; it’s more concrete and needs management. When an issue grows in severity, impact, and urgency and demands rapid, high-level action to protect people, operations, or reputation, it becomes a crisis. So the sequence is risk -> issue -> crisis because you move from what might happen, to what is happening and needs addressing, to a situation so severe that it requires extraordinary response. The other orders don’t fit because they would imply addressing a problem after it’s already a crisis or starting from an immediate crisis without first recognizing the underlying risk, which isn’t how escalation typically works.

The main progression here is from a potential threat to an actual problem and then to a full-scale emergency. A risk is a possible event that could cause harm but hasn’t happened yet—it's about what might happen and what could go wrong. An issue is what you have when that threat begins to materialize or when concerns are raised that require attention; it’s more concrete and needs management. When an issue grows in severity, impact, and urgency and demands rapid, high-level action to protect people, operations, or reputation, it becomes a crisis.

So the sequence is risk -> issue -> crisis because you move from what might happen, to what is happening and needs addressing, to a situation so severe that it requires extraordinary response. The other orders don’t fit because they would imply addressing a problem after it’s already a crisis or starting from an immediate crisis without first recognizing the underlying risk, which isn’t how escalation typically works.