In any discussion on continuity of operations, it is reasonable to ask, “Why should my organization invest in a tabletop exercise program?” While the reasons are many, some that serve as a foundation for a strategic-based approach to tabletop exercise programs include: Increased operational resilience: Operational resilience requires comprehensive knowledge of the organization;…
How does your organization prepare for crises? Have you been through the planning process thoroughly? In this interview, we speak with WeWork’s crisis and emergency preparedness manager Michael Gladstone. He talks about the difference between planning in high threat places and those safer or less vulnerable environment. He also spoke about technology and how it’s…
If it is your responsibility to control, facilitate or join a team of Crisis Management professionals, you are likely to hit some sizable hurdles should this team not have a strong foundation already in place. When dealing with a large organization with employees from all backgrounds, you will quickly understand, that few people will be…
2017 has seen some historic storms in North America and South Asia. There’s been a significant increase in cyber-attacks on major businesses such as Equifax and Uber. In the UK the NHS was affected by the WannaCry attack which caused a massive disruption and embarrassment for the NHS. There were many more crises throughout the…
These Seven Tips Will Help You Create Impactful and Memorable Crisis Simulation Tabletop Exercises 1. Ensure your tabletop exercise gets off to a good start by doing this…. Ensure you invite the right audience. This may seem obvious, but I have seen tabletop exercises fail when the they include functions that are not engaged throughout…
Recent Category 5 hurricanes and major earthquakes have again put the spotlight on the world of preparedness. When a community is impacted by a major event, almost everyone is impacted. It is imperative that we keep our businesses operational in order to support the community. Some organizations have business continuity plans, many don’t. According to…
Crises can strike without warning. Some incidents are slower and we can often start our response early. No matter what the situation is, we need to do more to prepare our businesses, communities, and families to survive and thrive after a crisis has passed. In this excellent episode, Mark Hoffman discusses how organizations can better…
They’ve weathered the storms, but could their crises have been avoided altogether? What lessons can crisis communicators draw from the recent VW “dieselgate” crisis and United Airlines’ spate of public relations disasters, most notably its violent removal of a passenger from one of its planes? These are crises where company wrong-doing was evident, yet any…
Guest contributor: Jo Detavernier, SCMP, APR – VP and Partner with Swyft. When a crisis hits, the spokesperson or (in a larger organization), the Crisis Communications Team, sees itself under immense pressure to respond quickly to demands for information from media. The first hour of a crisis is often called the Golden Hour because you…
Having perspective is always a good thing. In this interview, Joe McEnness, Executive Director – Office of Risk Management of the Catholic Church in Boston, discusses crisis preparedness. Having a plan is one thing, knowing how to implement that plan during a crisis is a totally different matter. Practicing the plan and ensuring your team…