Crisis Management Team Formation– selling the idea

In this presentation:

• initial questions to ask• team composition, duties & training• examples

Crisis News of the Week

http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/07/media/rolling-stone-crisis/

• Why do you think the topic was so prominent in the news?• “it represented an isolated and unusual episode and that Erdely (the

author) would continue to write for the magazine” (Editor)– what is your opinion on this decision?

• How could this crisis have been handled more effectively?• What are some beneficial outcomes of the issue?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5_GI3RxWiw (2:35”)

Discussion questions

1. What are the likely objections & barriers to implementing a Crisis Management Team (CMT)?

2. If you were going to prepare an argument promoting a CMT, what are the key points and sequence in your argument?

3. Who in an organization (general positions) should be selected as a CMT member?

4. What are the technical skills and personal qualities that members should have?

5. What training in CM and team process should be required?

6. What are the effects of stress on decision making and what countermeasures should be taken?

Presenting the CM Concept• What are the risks in your industry & examples

of crises?• What are the adverse outcomes of not

preparing, and advantages to preparing?• How would CM be compatible with the mission & vision of the

organization?• What would it take to implement a CM team?• What are the downsides to implementing a team and how can such

objections be overcome?• What special areas of representation, knowledge, and skill are necessary

for selection?• What kinds of skill training are necessary in CM and teamwork?• What resources and allocation are required for a CM system?• What would a comprehensive system of CM look like and how would it

change the organization?

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/responsibilities-crisis-management-team-members-70910.html

Typical team composition:• Facility management • Legal department • Risk management• Information technology • Human resources • Financial services • Real estate management • Corporate security • Public relations/

communications

Team Composition: Membership should be based on representation, knowledge, and skill.

Key roles:• Executive/CEO– responsibility &

authority• Team leader (may be CEO)– keep team

updated and focused• Spokesperson– public relations, central

source of information, communications, rumor control

• Legal representative– legal guidance & implications of actions

• Researchers– gather facts & compile information for position statements

• Coordinate all crisis related activities• Gathering and reviewing facts of the crisis• Determining crisis response activities• Allocate resources• Specifying internal and external communications• Training staff• Establishing working relationships with external stakeholders• Monitor progress and continuing situation assessment

Define the duties of the team:

What are key areas of training for a CMT?

• Team building• Acquaintance & awareness of styles• Openness & trust• cohesion, constructive team norms, groupthink

countermeasures• Understanding of risks & crises, impact & consequences unique to

the organization & industry• Understanding of key crisis concepts and practices• Overview of crisis planning and management process

Ensure that all CMT members are trained before the crisis occurs

The Crisis Management “War Room”

….. Or “Briefing Room” is a space that can be dedicated to CMT meetings during crisis, with resources available to support command decisions

What arrangements and resources would you list for inclusion into the

briefing room?

Crisis Management Dashboard

What real-time information would you want available to your CMT?

Example: Nexus CORE Dashboard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZPG1wPKccI (7:14”)

Ian I. Mitroff, Michael A. Diamond, and C. Murat Alpaslan (2008).How Prepared Are America's Colleges and Universities for Major Crises? Assessing the State of Crisis Management. URL: http://www.scup.org/knowledge/crisis_planning/ diamond.html

Recommendations for developing a crisis management plan and team

• Be prepared for a broad range of crises by developing a crisis portfolio based on your risk audit

• Develop a list of businesses in which the institution is engaged

• Develop a list of ticking time bombs and understand what external or internal events could set them off

• Form a multi-departmental crisis management team

• Systematically review and learn from crises, those that are avoided, and those faced by similar businesses

• Frequently train the team by simulating not only physical disasters (e.g., floods, forest fires) but also reputational attacks

• Make sure the business has a clear chain of command for decision making during a crisis

• Increase support for crisis management as a leadership imperative

Effects of stress on leadership ability

Example of CMT

Example of CMT linkages

Your Team’s Task—Formulate the CMT

• Select one of your team member’s organization; other team members act as consultants

• How would you present your case/argument for the organization to have a CMT? What are the barriers to forming a CMT? Outline a convincing argument for creating and developing a CMT

• Identify who should be included on your organization’s CMT and explain your reasoning

• What specifically would be the responsibilities/tasks of the team?• What skills should they have for these responsibilities?• How would you be able to assess CMT readiness and capability?