NCJ Number
115937
Journal
Security Management Volume: 33 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1989) Pages: 101-108
Date Published
1989
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A survey of Fortune 1000 corporations has shown that many business corporations deny their vulnerability to a disaster, while others that acknowledge their vulnerability face a number of critical issues that seriously hamper their ability to engage in a systematic and sensible program of crisis management.
Abstract
They survey mailed in late 1986 focused on the number of incidents in the last 3 years, the range and extent of various preventive measures, and attitudes toward crisis management. Responses came from 114 of the 1,000 firms receiving questionnaires. Results showed that the top four crises were mechanical or product-related, followed by crises that were human or organizationally produced. Preventive actions consisted largely of limited, short-term technical actions. Actions involving human, intraorganizational, and interorganizational processes were used less frequently. Emotional preparation for crises received the least attention. Organizations with crisis management units engaged in significantly more preventive actions than those without such units. Findings indicated that organizations should establish dual crisis portfolios, consisting of preparations for five main types of crises and of sets of preventive actions. These portfolios should be developed following a broad assessment of the organization and its vulnerabilities. Figures and tables.