Crisis Management

Crisis management is one element of an effective overall security management system. BA ENTERPRISES pays particular attention to this key aspect of security, as crises often occur without warning and can be a question of „to be or not to be“.

Crises pose fundamental challenges to states, economic organisations, institutions and individuals. An appropriate response to the crisis is only possible if appropriate professional steps have been taken to prepare for all eventualities. The survival and future of the organisation concerned may depend on the outcome of the crisis, i.e. whether it is overcome or not.

Crises can take many forms. Terrorist attacks, bomb threats, kidnapping, extortion, sabotage, fire, natural disasters, accidents, technical failures, etc. – They all require a different approach and need to be dealt with in different ways. What they all have in common, however, is the need to have a functioning crisis management system in place that enables immediate action to be taken and the crisis situation to be successfully managed.

Typical elements of a crisis include the need to take important decisions based on reliable analysis, the presence of an acute threat, an increase in the level of general uncertainty, the need to act quickly and the importance of the outcome for the future.

The focus must be on crisis prevention and early detection, so that a timely response can be made and appropriate countermeasures taken. A perfect crisis management system requires all the necessary human and material resources to be in place before a crisis occurs. It is also essential for the successful management of a crisis that responsibilities and roles are clearly defined, designated and practised.

The analysis of the crisis situation, the provision of information, the command structure, the internal and external communications and the monitoring of all actions taken have a critical impact on the success of the operation and therefore on the survival and future of the organisation.

Not only does crisis management need to be planned, implemented, communicated and monitored, but a fully functional crisis management system can only be achieved by continually practising all key processes and procedures.

If the worst comes to the worst, people need to know not only their own roles and responsibilities, but also those of their colleagues to ensure that the crisis does not escalate into a disaster.