What is Crisis Management?

Who needs Crisis Management?

Is a Crisis something that always happens without warning?

What is the monetary value of Crisis Management?

What are the components of good Crisis Management?

If I invest in these services, will I see a return on my investment?

Is once enough?

What are some examples of Crisis Management needs?

What are the most critical times in managing a crisis?

Should my Risk Manager provide me with these services?

Where do I begin?

What is Crisis Management?
Crisis Management means anticipating every scenario which could negatively impact a company or organization, then developing a plan of action to keep a crisis from happening. If a crisis does occur, the plan predetermines appropriate steps to quickly end the crisis.

Braud Communications specifically addresses communications during a crisis, including getting vital information to employees the community, customers, stockholders, and the media. back to top...

Who needs Crisis Management?
There are obvious examples, such as industrial facilities. But with the increasing number of media outlets, increasing lawsuits and societal blame, Crisis Management is needed by the likes of shopping malls and real estate developers, schools and colleges, hospitals and medical professionals. It is fair to say that today, every company, organization and profession should consider some form of crisis management and planning. back to top...

Is a Crisis something that always happens without warning?
There are smoldering and sudden crisises. A smoldering crisis involves issues that you know about but avoid resolving. Like oily rags, they smolder until they erupt into costly flames. A sudden crisis strikes without warning, such as an explosion or natural disaster. But even a sudden crisis can be mitigated through advanced planning and training. back to top...

What is the monetary value of Crisis Management?
The monetary value is equivalent to the value of your company. It may be equivalent to the value of a large portion of your annual sales or a proportionate share of your stock value. In a nutshell, if you fail to respond quickly, decisively and appropriately to a crisis, you expose your company to loss of sales, loss of stock value, loss of confidence by the community, loss of confidence among employees, attacks by the media and increasingly higher legal judgments. back to top...

What are the components of good Crisis Management?
Crisis Management includes all or some of the following:

• A Vulnerability Audit identifies existing conditions, facilities and trends which could lead to a crisis that can damage your reputation and revenue.
  
• A Crisis Plan is a step-by-step manual which outlines your plan of action for communicating with stakeholders should a crisis occur.
  
• Media Training teaches key individuals how to talk to the media.
  
• Crisis Drills test these procedures through role playing. back to top...
  

If I invest in these services, will I see a return on my investment?
Always. A wise business person considers the cost-to-benefit ratio through outcome based pricing. For example, a $5,000 crisis plan may prevent you from ever paying a $100,000 corporate insurance deductible because a potential crisis was eliminated. back to top...

Is once enough?
A Crisis Plan is something that should be reviewed on a regular basis. Braud Communications can help you establish procedures for periodic reviews and updates of your plan. back to top...

What are some examples of Crisis Management needs?
Y2K, Tylenol, Three Mile Island, Bhopal India, a school shooting, a rape at a shopping mall, a chemical explosion, a train derailment, a questionable medical procedure, the introduction of a new product, a natural disaster interrupting business operations, a disgruntled employee; the list is endless. back to top...

What are the most critical times in managing a crisis?
Before it happens, the first critical hour after it happens and the first critical 24 hours of an event. back to top...

Should my Risk Manager provide me with these services?
In many cases a partial crisis plan may be in place which covers key aspects of emergency procedures for explosions or natural disasters. Braud Communications provides expertise in communications during a crisis, as a way to save companies money. This involves communications to the employees, community, customers, stockholders, and the media. back to top...

Where do I begin?
Start with a call to Braud Communications. back to top...