Swiss Federal Chancellery FCh Federal Crisis Management Training

Federal Crisis Early Detection and

Federal Rapid Reflection Force

Nicolas G. Mueller

Head, Federal Crisis Early Detection & Crisis Management Support

Swiss Federal Chancellery, Presidential Service

4th OECD – FCh WS on Strategic Crisis Management Geneva, May 29th, 2015

2 Swiss Federal Chancellery Nicolas G. Mueller, Head Federal Crisis Management Training

New Tasks in Federal Crisis Management (Government and Administration Organisation Act – 28.09.2012)

Advises and supports the Federal Council concerning the timely detection and the management of crises.

New Presidential Service (ca. 10 Staff) - Diplomatic Advisor - Communication Support (Speeches) - Crisis Early Detection - Crisis Management Advice and Support

3 Swiss Federal Chancellery Nicolas G. Mueller, Head Federal Crisis Management Training

Part of Presidential Service

Crisis Early Detection & Sense Making for Cabinet

Goal: Analysis of Global Trends with a strat. Crisis Potential for Switzerland

Cabinet

Federal Crisis Early Detection & Crisis Mgmt Support

Sour

ces

Industry / Insurance

Ministries / Offices

Univ. / Think Tanks Federal Intel Services

Advisory Group (key Partners /

Sources)

- Quarterly Situation Reports - Show Need for Action - Crisis Alerts (via President) - Advice & Support in a Crisis

Crisis Prevention Crisis Management

Semantic Web Tech: (Expert Blogs / Fori), “Wisdom of Crowds”

News Monitoring

Ministries / Offices

Prevention / Mitigation

Private Intel Services

Intl. Organizations

Expert Community Input for Scenarios

and Reports Specific requests

for Information Reports

and Alerts

Federal Risk Mgmt

4 Swiss Federal Chancellery Nicolas G. Mueller, Head Federal Crisis Management Training

Federal Crisis Management Support / Advisory Services available in a Crisis to the Swiss President or to any Federal Crisis Cell mandated by the Cabinet:

3. ‘Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)’ Advice concerning technical and scientific aspects of the crisis Example volcanic ash cloud: Scientific analysis (path of cloud, Aircraft safety

1. Crisis Counsellor / critical observer (‘King’s fool’)

Input: ‘Out-of-the-box’ thinking, Asking questions, Lessons from other crises, CM methodology, network of experts and partners

2. ’Rapid Reflection Force’ „Sense making“ for complex crises, focus on complexity, cascading effects Example volcanic ash cloud: Focus on cascading effects.

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Support

Crisis Management Tasks and Functions

Decision Makers Strategic Decisions

Communications External and Internal Comm Coordination of Comm with

Partners

Task Force / Rapid Reflection Force

Sense Making Identify Key Challenges Idenitfy Key Actors Develop Strategic Options

Operational Crisis Cell Execution of Urgent Measures Operational Coordination

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Federal Rapid Reflection Force

Entscheid des BST ABCN in der Sitzung vom 20.11.2014: Beauftragung der Bundeskanzlei zur Bildung einer Rapid Reflection Force auf Bundesebene bis zum 30.06.2015 ‘Die RRF hat die Aufgabe in einer Krise strategische Fragen, Entwicklungs-möglichkeiten, Problemerfassungen, mögliche Massnahmen aus der externen Sichtweise etc. darzulegen bzw. zu verifizieren.’’

The Federal Chancellery is mandated to set up a federal rapid reflection force until 30 June 2015

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Crisis cell vs. Rapid Reflection Force

Rapid Reflection Force: • Group of 5 – 10 people • Integration of diverse perspectives and backgrounds • Creativity, Out-of-the-Box thinking, no taboos

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Rapid Reflection Force – Lead Questions

1. What is the crisis all about? Political, ethical aspects? «Hidden crisis»?

2. Actors, networks, stakeholders, hidden agendas?

3. Key uncertainties, strategic challenges (short / medium / long term) How could the crisis develop (scenarios?)

4. Desired outcome, strategic options (short / medium / long term); Which mistakes should be prevented?

5. Key messages and vectors (internal, external, stakeholders with special needs)?

Patrick Lagadec et al: Implementing rapid reflection forces, Crisis Response, Vol. 3 Issue 2, 2007 / www.patricklagadec.net Updated togehter with Arjen Boin, Eric Stern, Bengt Sundelius in 2014 in the framework of the OECD HLRF

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The Federal RRF is already operational

Pilot phase for next 3 years – participation in crisis exercises

Set up: • 20 senior officers («Reserve») who do their military

service for the Federal Chancellery. • Typical members (Intelligence, heads of cantonal crisis

cells, crisis managers of multi-national organizations, academics, international lawyers…

Advantage of this solution: • Know RRF methodology • Know each other very well (5 staff courses / year) • Can be mobilized quickly, are paid, security checked • Heterogeous composition • No «divas», who have to show off

10 Swiss Federal Chancellery Nicolas G. Mueller, Head Federal Crisis Management Training

Thank you for your attention!

Nicolas G. Mueller Swiss Federal Chancellery Head, Federal Crisis Management Training Feldeggweg 1, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Tel. +41 58 464 52 88 nicolas.mueller@bk.admin.ch