| Reports of consumer product defects and recalls are | | | | If word has spread to the media and the general public, |
| coming in fast and furious these days. The media | | | | a crisis communication plan should be implemented to |
| onslaught appeared to begin with tainted Chinese | | | | control corporate disruption and any resulting financial |
| products and the surrounding political uproar. Big name | | | | damage. With a simple, effective plan in place, |
| manufacturers have been outsourcing for decades, so | | | | organizations are not only in a better position to |
| why all the noise now? | | | | minimize damage, they are more often in a better |
| Much of it has to do with the sea change in editorial | | | | position to handle future crisis situations that could |
| departments across the nation. "Help Desks" are | | | | disrupt the business and affect its operating expenses, |
| popping up everywhere in an attempt to thwart | | | | profits and ongoing operations. |
| dwindling circulation. Politically-driven blogs have | | | | Still, creating a crisis action plan is easier said than |
| become the rage, and scare tactics at Network TV | | | | done. Fear or flight is a visceral reaction to such |
| and Cable news networks are always popular during | | | | situations. |
| sweeps weeks. | | | | One misconception pointed to by the Institute for Crisis |
| There is one daily newspaper in my own hometown | | | | Management is that there is usually no warning before |
| that reports product recalls almost everyday. | | | | such events occur. The fact is, however that problems |
| It's a great public service, in my opinion. If there is bad | | | | more often than not have been simmering for a long |
| beef or chicken at my local grocery, I want to know | | | | time, and management often knows about it before |
| about it. | | | | any public dissemination. Natural disasters and |
| But I can't help thinking, how much of the reporting is | | | | employee actions play a minor role compared to |
| being blown out of proportion. And how exactly are | | | | management decisions, which are most likely to lead to |
| businesses coping with all the negative publicity? | | | | big, bad business news. |
| Too many stick their heads in the sand, hoping the | | | | The power of branding is an awesome |
| crisis will blow over. The general consensus, according | | | | responsibility--and a powerful tool--when implemented |
| to crisis management sources, including the Institute for | | | | by experienced managers who understand the |
| Crisis Management is that the best crisis management | | | | downside costs that effective brand management |
| deals with potential crises swiftly, before revenue | | | | brings to the corporate table. |
| streams and stock prices can be impacted. | | | | |