Crisis Communication

The continuity of your entire organization could depend on whether or not you have a communications plan... and how good it is. If you don't have a strategy and plan for communicating to your employees, the public and any other stakeholders, you may find yourself behind the eight ball. This week's articles could help you stay in the game.

What are you doing to connect, protect and account for your people in a crisis? (Item #1) Analysts Frost & Sullivan: a well designed plan for crisis communications is a must. (Item #2) The author of this piece offers a free downloadable communications template you can use. (Item #3)

Behavior precedes communication, sometimes resulting in spin. (Item #4) Would you be able to use your email right after a disruption? (Item #5) Here's what you can take away from John Edwards' career suicide. (Item #6)


How will you communicate during a crisis? Learn more at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Reputation Management

Every organization is aware that its good reputation is priceless, but some companies aren't aware that their online reputation is just as critical. The Internet has provided a new battleground on which reputation battles must be fought. If you haven't done so, Google your organization's name and see what comes up. You may find some negatives along with the positives; if you do, this week's articles may be helpful in getting rid of them. The articles also can help you prevent negatives in the first place.

The public relations approach of "putting lipstick on the pig" is known as Reputation Management. (Item #1) Reputation management, in short, is two jobs: trying to be more loved and trying to be less hated. (Item #2) Your reputation in the search engines is becoming increasingly more important, and social media can help you maintain a good online reputation. (Item #3)

Welcome to the dark and sometimes ugly world of online reputation management. (Item #4) Here are essential ORM strategies & tactics that can save your assets. (Item #5) A new industry promises to help counter negative search results on the Web. (Item #6)

Read more about managing your organization's reputation at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

BCP Testing and Exercising

We keep saying it – you can’t count on your plan until you test it – and we will keep saying it because it couldn’t be truer. It only takes one wrong number, one missing link, and your plan may not work. So, take heed from this week’s articles and make sure you plan to test as soon as possible.

The trends in testing and exercising may give you some new ideas on testing your plan. (Item #1) The only way to ensure that your continuity plan will work is to test it with regular exercises and then to update the plans in the light of experience. (Item #2) Do you test your data backups? You should. (Item #3)

Setting up the exercise the right way can ensure that everyone benefits from it. (Item #4) Testing your plan is critical to its success. (Item #5) Don’t forget how important it is to train senior staff and others so they will know their jobs. (Item #6)

Learn more about testing and exercising at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Risk Management

Risk is anything that can derail your organization from accomplishing its mission. You need to identify the risks, determine their probable impact on your organization, then determine which risks to accept, which to mitigate, and how to deal with them. This week’s articles can help you with that task.

How are business continuity and risk management related in your organization? (Item #1) A Microsoft manager shares some insights into how his company reduces risk. (Item #2) Which approach to risk was right in this case? (Item #3)

Are you aware of the risks involved in ending relationships with employees and vendors? (Item #4) Don’t look too closely at risk… stepping back can give you a more critical view. (Item #5) Here are some tips to help you plan your risk management strategy. (Item #6)

Read all about it at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Shelter-in-Place

Chemical spills, storms and other events may require the need to shelter-in-place. If you find yourself in this situation, your organization should be prepared to host its employees until the shelter-in-place order is lifted. This week’s articles will help with those preparations.

You should understand and plan for both evacuating and sheltering-in-place. (Item #1) Depending on your location and the type of event, shelter in place plans will entail different responses. (Item #2) How effective – really – are duct tape and plastic? (Item #3)

Sheltering-in-place demands a safe environment. (Item #4) Experts at Stanford University have concluded that staying put could be the best option in the event of nuclear incident. (Item #5) What are a landlord’s obligations under a shelter-in-place order? (Item #6)


Learn what you need to know at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs