A Comprehensive Approach to Identifying, Preventing, Mitigating, Responding to, and Recovering from Crises
Increasingly, companies have become vulnerable to threats from a number of different areas, many of which may end in crisis:
- One of your executives has been kidnapped while traveling in a foreign country
- An employee, domestic partner, or customer commits an act of workplace violence that wounds or kills employees
- A natural or man-made disaster closes company buildings and suspends company operations for several weeks
- A negative disclosure or media issue damages the company’s reputation or lowers share value
Yet, according to the American Management Association, one out of three large businesses does not have a crisis management plan. Even more important, two out of three large businesses do not train or test their leaders on crisis management skills.
Using a multi-phase process, Crisis Management Associates (CMA) can assist your staff in developing and implementing a comprehensive crisis management program. This program will enable your company to prevent or minimize potential crises, respond effectively if they do occur, and recover from the incident and return to normal operations.
► Assessing Business Risks and Vulnerabilities
A comprehensive risk assessment and vulnerability analysis conducted by CMA experts will identify your exposure to crises. We will also look at all aspects of your operations and your facilities to ensure the development of appropriate risk reduction strategies.
► Evaluating Crisis Management Plans
Our team members are well versed in crisis management planning. Our multi-disciplinary team will conduct a review of your existing plans to determine whether your workplace has appropriate plans in place to deal with potential crises.
► Planning for Crises
CMA staff will assist your company in developing or enhancing comprehensive crisis management plans. Plans can be customized to meet the needs of each specific facility and operation. Furthermore, because staff performance is critical to the success of emergency response, the customization of these plans includes working through roles and responsibilities of (over) management and employees before an incident occurs.
► Training
Ongoing training is an essential part of ensuring your staff is prepared to manage potential crises, or any emergency that could affect the work setting. From preventing or mitigating incident severity, to responding to an actual incident, CMA can provide on-site training to prepare your staff. This training will prepare them to implement proactive intervention strategies to mitigate risk and deal efficiently and effectively with any emergency.
► Exercises / Drills
Presenting challenges from real world events, our team will develop and present tabletop drills and full-scale exercises to enhance your staff’s preparedness for emergencies. Exercises are an essential part of preparing your staff and identify issues that require additional focus.
► Business Continuity Planning
Reducing the consequences of an emergency and returning your operations to normal will depend on your level of planning. Ensuring that you have business continuity plans in place that cover everything from protecting vital infrastructure through relocation to temporary facilities is a critical part of the planning process. Our associates will help to ensure that you are able to conduct business even in the aftermath of a crisis.
► Emergency Response Team
CMAs Emergency Response Team is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide emergency assistance. With a highly trained multi-functional team, CMA can assist your organization with the total management of an incident. From arranging for specific crisis response actions to dealing with employee and family issues, we are prepared to aid in the restoration of normalcy to the workplace.
► Crisis Communications
Your company’s future may depend upon its reputation. The message sent to employees, the public, and other stakeholders by your handling of a crisis may reflect on how you manage your company. Without effective execution of internal and external communications, even a well-managed crisis response may be cast in a negative light. CMA experts can help your organization ensure the most appropriate message is sent to your key audiences.
Prevention planning is a prudent use of your company’s resources, so please do not wait until a catastrophe occurs to find out you may not be prepared. Our staff of professional consultants is ready to help you prepare and prevent, rather than react and regret. Contact Crisis Management Associates today for assistance with preparing your crisis management plan, or to learn other ways we can assist you.
What Our Clients Say About Our Crisis Management Planning Work
"Thank you for a truly first-class best practice document. You, Todd, Gary and the rest of your team did an outstanding job and all comments were very positive from the participants at the (Annual Security) Summit." Vice President |
