Crisis IQ

Given the myriad challenges facing the food and agriculture sector, today’s dormant issue is apt to escalate into a full-blown crisis of consumer, customer and/or investor confidence at any time. The following scorecard is designed to measure your level of preparedness to respond, based on established principles of crisis management. This tool is not designed to test your plan, but rather to determine if you have the elements in place for an effective and timely response.

Crisis IQ Quiz

Score

"We're On Top Of Our Game..."

Congratulations, you've done most of the pre-work, now it's up to the team to perform. This is not to say that things can't go wrong, but you have most of your bases covered. The challenge now is to maintain that level of preparedness and fine tune your team's skills to better manage the digital crisis era.

So What Now?

It would be nice to say you're done, but we all know it doesn't work that way. Fine tuning your crisis response always involves further training, so consider the following:

Review your plans to respond in the social space to ensure you have the digital tools you will need to engage rapidly in the conversation.
Unannounced drills and exercises will help you evaluate your ability to mobilize the team rapidly and respond within the first 15 minutes.
To test your technology and systems, conduct exercises that include power outages, limited cellular capabilities and other elements that impact your normal response systems.

To get started, Contact Us below.

"We'll Be Standing But Bruised..."

You have taken the time to prepare your organization, but not to a level where the team is capable of running smoothly right out of the gate. Organizations at this level often struggle with slow decision making along with starts and stops which impact their ability to get ahead of the issue. Eventually, as the initial pressure subsides, you are able to start playing a little offense, but it may take a while for your loyal consumers to resume their eating habits.

So What Now?

You have many of the key elements in place, but there are some areas that still need attention. Consider these steps:

You already know the risks, now it's time to write the issue papers that help define those threats, the action steps to mitigate the issues, and the key messages and stand-by statements you will need to respond rapidly.
Work on your social media capabilities with a series of simulation exercises. The social discussion provides you with the insights you will need to guide your course of action.
Consider more complex drills for the team that include your back-ups and remote locations if applicable.

To get started, Contact Us below

"We're Just Going To Wing It..."

At least your organization has some elements of a crisis response in place, but there are a lot of holes in that plan. Organizations at this level often manage to survive the first 24 - 36 hours, but it starts to unravel if the issue persists. The barrage of questions soon overwhelms the group, who is forced to only play defense. Customers begin to question whether they have the right partner and loyal consumers may second-guess their food decisions.

So What Now?

When a crisis strikes a "wing it" organization, someone at the top usually takes the fall. It could have been avoided with a little more planning. Consider the following:

Conduct a few simple table top exercises that allow the team to play out their roles in a safe environment.
Consider media training your spokesperson so they know how to handle tough media interviews. It also will enhance their overall communication skills.
In today's media world, issues management is often won or lost in the social channels. Be sure to beef up your capabilities in this area.

To get started, Contact Us below.

"It Won't Happen To Me..."

If your company or brand were linked to a food related crisis, your organization would likely be making it up on the fly. Organizations at this level often struggle to respond in a fashion that calms the crisis. Internal debates slow down their ability to respond externally. The lack of action prompts new questions both inside and outside of the organization. As each day passes, the brand takes a beating, which often impacts consumer food decisions and the bottom line.

So What Now?

The question you need to ask yourself is how lucky do you feel. If you want to roll the dice, don't do anything, but if you want to protect your brand, it's time to dedicate the time and resources necessary to prepare your team.

Start by developing a crisis plan, or enhancing your existing plan. Make sure your team is aware of their roles and responsibilities.
Conduct training with the team at least once a year so they can get a feel for how to handle a real crisis.
Spend some time identifying the primary threats facing your company and develop your stand-by statements now.

To get started, Contact Us below.

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The first step to address your need is to speak with one of our crisis management experts about steps you can take to improve your preparedness. Just fill in the information below to get started.

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For more information, contact:

Stacey Stevens,
Senior Vice President
[email protected]
312.248.8872

FoodMinds
328 South Jefferson Street
Suite 750
Chicago, IL 60661

Crisis IQ

Crisis IQ Quiz

In which area do you feel your organization/brand is most vulnerable?

As your company adopts the Food Safety Modernization Act, has it convened a multi-disciplinary group of leaders to assess the implications from a company and brand reputation perspective?

When was the last time you had a “crisis level” incident at your company?

Do you have a crisis plan?

Does your plan clearly define what constitutes a crisis?

Does your plan clearly define the roles and responsibilities for each member of the team?

Are ALL members of your crisis team aware of their roles and responsibilities?

Does your plan clearly define who is responsible for communicating to the different audiences who will demand information?

Does your plan define the primary threats facing your company/organization?

Do you have key messaging and standby statement templates on your primary threats already in place and approved by legal counsel?

Do you have the capability to reach out to all employees within four hours if necessary?

Do you have the capability to reach out to all customers within 24 hours if necessary?

Has your plan’s contact page (phone numbers and email addresses) been updated within the last year?

When was the last time you held a training session with the entire crisis team?

How often do you conduct training with your team?

During your last drill, how well did your team perform?

Did your last drill include any social media elements?

Based on past performance, is your organization willing and capable of making rapid decisions?

Do you have a spokesperson that is capable of handling interviews with major news outlets like CNN?

When was the last time your spokesperson was media trained?

Do you have the resources and skill sets on your staff to effectively manage a crisis?

Do you have outside PR counsel you can call on to help you manage the crisis?

How rapidly could your organization prepare and approve a crisis-related media statement to be prepared to respond if needed?

How quickly could your team create website content dedicated to the crisis issue?

Does your company have the tools to effectively monitor social media channels?

How quickly could your team start participating in the crisis conversation within social channels with approved statements?

Does your leadership team (C-suite) have confidence in your team's ability to manage a crisis situation?

In every crisis there are two courts – the court of law and court of public opinion. Which way would your company likely lean?

In what business sector would you classify your company/organization?

How many employees work for your company/organization?

How many locations?

Crisis IQ Quiz

"We're On Top Of Our Game..."

So What Now?

"We'll Be Standing But Bruised..."

So What Now?

"We're Just Going To Wing It..."

So What Now?

"It Won't Happen To Me..."

So What Now?

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