Final answer:
The characteristic that is not typical of a crisis is establishing who is at fault, as it is usually a post-crisis activity and not a defining aspect of the crisis itself.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic among the options provided that is not a typical characteristic of a crisis is establishing who is at fault. A crisis usually involves an unexpected event or series of events that can cause significant harm to an organization's operations, reputation, or stakeholders. Typical characteristics of a crisis include damage to the bottom line, meaning it has a negative financial impact; escalating intensity, as the situation worsens over time if not properly managed; and media or regulatory scrutiny, which occurs when the crisis draws attention from the media or provokes investigation by authorities. However, determining who is at fault is often a post-crisis activity aimed at understanding the causes and allocating responsibility but is not a defining characteristic of the crisis itself as it unfolds.