[CM] Starting from Zero

Where do I Start?

This blog is written for someone about to start their crisis management journey. It begins with a “blank” page. If you are operating in an existing crisis management framework, proceed to the next stage of the CM journey.

What is a Crisis?

The key in this journey is to “speak the same lingo.” Hence, it is essential that an organization establish its definition of a “crisis.”

The crisis is a significant business disruption that stimulates extensive news media coverage. The resulting public scrutiny will affect the organization’s normal operations and could have a political, legal, financial and governmental impact on its business.

Why Do I Start?

The appointed person should start by gathering information from articles, case studies and analyses of recent crises affecting organizations inside and outside your industry. The key is to identify best-practice recommendations and any common pitfalls.

How Do I Identify a Crisis?

Having understood the definition of a crisis in an organization, take a hard look at your organization and identify issues that can develop into a crisis.

One of the major elements of effective CM planning includes an assessment of the most likely scenarios.

The issues can span the organization and may include company leadership conduct concerns, a growing list of safety violations or a stream of negative news stories.

How to Setup a CM Planning Team?

The general failure of many executives tasked to implement the organization’s first CM initiative is the temptation to go into it alone. The CM project is often underestimated as it is usually a large project. Hence, it is impossible for an individual just to treat it as a CM plan writing exercise and build it alone. Access to the perspective of a multi-disciplinary team is imperative to the success of this project when it is started.

What is Next When Issues are Identified?

With issues identified, the project team or the Crisis Management Planning Team will take note of which problems require an additional non-communication response, such as help from medical or law enforcement professionals.

At this project stage, it is essential to secure additional training or identify personnel in advance to help anyone physically or mentally hurt by a crisis.

Goh, M. H. (2016). A Manager’s Guide to Implement Your Crisis Management Plan. Business Continuity Management Specialist Series (1st ed., p. 192). Singapore: GMH Pte Ltd.

Extracted from Starting from zero

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