In the present climate, the likelihood of an unexpected event causing a company crisis has, unfortunately, become an everyday reality. Crisis threatens the continuity of a business, and if not dealt with rapidly and professionally, disrupts company's operations for an indefinite period of time. Hence why, crisis management is one of the most acute issues of this century.
It is estimated that less than 30% of companies world-wide possess adequate contingency and recovery plans; this makes most organisations still unprepared to deal effectively with most crisis situations including fire, terrorism threats, natural disasters, kidnapping, etc. Nor are they prepared to deal with the consequences of such events - disruption to business, financial losses or personal danger.
Crisis management is a systematic response to unexpected events that threaten company's staff, assets and operational stability. Crisis management involves identifying a crisis, planning a response to the crisis and confronting and resolving the crisis.
Without well-planned, implemented and rehearsed emergency response programs, the chaotic atmosphere and stressful conditions will prevent an organised and immediate response, which is the only means to reduce losses and keep a company operational and productive.
We divide crisis management into 2 main stages - preventive and reactive, and work together with your team at both stages - developing a plan that will prevent the crisis from escalation and while dealing with the crisis.
Preventive:
- Development of a customised emergency plan, defining roles and responsibilities within the organisational structure
- Development of alternative immediate responses to crisis
- Establishing standing emergency procedures and conducting a general staff training
- Training a crisis management team within an organisation to manage any disaster or crisis situation
- Training a contingency and recovery team within an organisation to act decisively at the outset of a crisis
Reactive:
On-site teams to manage the chaotic and stressful first 72 hours of a crisis
- Activating pre-planned contingency procedures to maintain organisation's stability
- Orderly communication of information to all involved parties
- Handling the media, providing it with a co-ordinated response
- Addressing concerns of company's employees and their families, shareholders, suppliers and customers
- Co-ordination of the procedures to return the company to normal operations
- Implementing technology based recovery plans to restore critical information and communications systems
- Ensuring senior management and employees are focused on the recovery plan