What is a crisis?

I am often asked this question and to be honest there is not one answer as to every organisation a crisis will look, act and feel different. However, the common descriptor that appears in virtually all the reports I’ve read on the phenomenon have described the event as ‘overwhelming.’

The new century has brought with it new risks. Remember your first car? Of course you do, remember how basic it was? Now compare that to the vehicle you drive now, no comparison right? The technology involved has increased exponentially – when was the last time you wound your window down? Now take that difference and compare it to your business. Even if the complexity is not visible its there I can assure you, interdependence is a by-product of the world we live in.

But what are the new risks? For me the most salient are:

• Natural Disasters – with most major cities located at the mouths of rivers, there are 634 million people at risk due to the increase of sea level that experts are saying will rise by more than a foot over the next century.
• National Infrastructure – roads, bridges, railways and many of the buildings in which we live and work are fragmented, stressed, out-dated, and in need of repair.
• Social Disorder – the Arab Spring and other major demonstrations against the social order are fuelled by poverty and access to the internet that makes those without all to aware of what others have.
• Pandemics – the spread of diseases across large areas has been facilitated by globalisation and quicker and more efficient transport links.
• Terrorism – although major events are relatively rare, small low tech, easy to copy attacks are becoming more and more frequent.
• Cyber – with the interdependency of computer systems and a just-in-time business model for many organisations, collateral damage from being hacked is becoming a very clear and present danger.

How can a free Crisis Managaement Audit help?

In many circumstances you cannot prevent an event that could tip your organisation into crisis. For example, what could have predicted the recent typhoon that hit Japan? However, we can mitigate the impact; manage the consequences; and control the response. The best way I have found to manage any crisis is to apply the five ‘Ps’ that I learnt and had drummed into me as a young Parachute Regiment NCO: Preparation and Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance.

When was the last time you looked at your company’s crisis management? Contact us.

Be proactive. Think about the incidents your organisation may face in the future. Speak to us today about your free crisis management audit