Crisis Management Team Formation– Selling the idea In this presentation: initial questions to ask team composition, duties & training examples

Team 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 kind of resources and allocation would be necessary for a CM system? What would a comprehensive system of CM look like and how would it change the organization?

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:

CM Team Training 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

Survey of colleges and comparison of training (preparation) vs actual crisis experience 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:

Example of CMT

Example of CMT linkages

Some cautions in using teams Team development & maturity: immature or incompletely developed teams can fragment, use hidden agendas, and delay decisions. CMTs must be mature to deal with these issues. Groupthink: When teams become too cohesive, are subject to much external pressure to be successful, have limited internal or external monitoring, concurrence can adversely affect decision quality Cognitive Resources Theory: In high stress situations experienced leaders are better than bright ones; in novel situations, leaders cannot necessarily draw on experience and bright leaders may be better

Your Team’s Task— Formulate the CMT Select one of your team member’s organization; other team members act as consultants Identify who should be on your organization’s CMT and explain your reasoning How would you present your case/argument for the organization to have a CMT? What specifically would be the tasks of the team? What kind of training should they have?

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: Be prepared for a broad range of crises by preparing a crisis portfolio Develop a list of businesses in which the organization 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 the crises experienced by the institution, avoided by it, and faced by similar organizations. Make sure the team is trained to handle a series of broad ranging and often unanticipated crises Constantly train the team by simulating not only physical disasters but also reputational ones Make sure the organization has a clear chain of command for decision making during crisis. Make sure that adequate non-technology-based communications are available Increase support for crisis management as a leadership imperative Recommendations

Campus Critical Incident Plan (Team)Campus Critical Incident Plan Community CRT Training Manual Ball State Emergency Guidelines Sample Team Plans