Prevention is better than dealing with problems later. Crisis management teams should anticipate potential crises instead of facing unexpected situations. This prepares the organization and makes them stronger.
To identify potential hazards, workshops and practice drills can help. But where do you find these crisis scenarios?
Finding Crisis Scenarios for Plans and Drills
First, the risk management team looks at potential dangers. They use a risk matrix to categorize risks. Some are unlikely but could have a big impact.
We use the Situational Crisis Communication Theory to tackle these risks and protect the organization’s reputation. This theory helps us understand crisis events and their effects.
Our goal is to protect the organization’s reputation. To do this, we need to know where the crisis comes from. We use categories from the Situational Crisis Communication Theory to understand different crises. Here’s a quick overview:
- Natural Disasters: Like tornadoes or floods that disrupt business and harm people.
- Rumours: Spreading false and damaging information about the organization hurts its reputation.
- Workplace Violence: When current or former employees threaten or harm others at work.
- Product Tampering/Malevolence: Deliberate harm to the organization’s products or services.
- Challenges: Stakeholders saying the organization isn’t doing things right.
- Technical-Error Accidents: Accidents from equipment or technology problems.
- Technical-Error Product Harm: Faulty products due to equipment or technology issues.
- Human-Error Accidents: Accidents from human mistakes or misjudgments.
- Human-Error Product Harm: Defective products because of human errors.
- Organizational Misdeed: Bad management actions that harm stakeholders or break laws.
Understanding these categories helps handle different crises. Each type needs a specific response to protect the organization’s strength and reputation.”