1. Identify the hidden costs before implementing a solution.
It is crucial you take into account all potential costs associated with properly embedding the tool. From associated contacts to any additional modules which may be needed for the tool to function, you must take the time to factor in all associated expenses to fully cost out the new tool’s financial impact.
2. Minimize the effort required to manage the solution.
It’s no use finding out you don’t know how to use the tool once a crisis has occurred. Take the time to identify and set up tool training early in the change management process so the dedicated operational teams quickly master the tool.
3. Minimize the effort required to integrate the solution
By taking into account all of your processes and ensuring all systems interconnect effectively. From the beginning, it’s important to consider how all relevant procedures will interact and feed into this new system. Unfortunately, it is very often necessary to rethink and redesign your escalation processes to take into account new possible uses, such as multilingual teams, on-call duty, forms, etc. Take advantage of the implementation stage to organize a full review of all the procedures to help you classify them into three action categories: 1) To be deleted, 2) To be updated, 3) To be created.
4. Stop thinking in silo mode.
Don’t forget that crises are as varied and diverse as your organization: they are not just related to IT! Each crisis could involve a wide range of departments, from security, communication and HR to your supply chain and retail division.
5. Don’t let everyone choose their own solution
it’s definitely not a case of the more the merrier. Whilst we have already seen how multiple systems can have a detrimental impact on cost and operations, it’s also important to consider how a multi-tool approach could impact your ability to manage a global crisis in a unified way, and complicate reporting and feedback processes.
6. Be clear that great tools alone can’t solve a crisis.
Crisis management requires all essential resources to be mobilized, with the tool itself playing a starring role. Whilst it could prove the keystone of your crisis management approach, the consequences of imagining the tool can take charge of managing the entire crisis by itself can be dangerous. The most effective crisis management comes from fully understanding how your company operates and working flexibly.
