As I read and shake my head, sigh and get absolutely frustrated about the oil spill calamity/crisis/disaster, I know the entire world feels as I do.
Heck, this crosses party lines, and if there is a defense team, they better have thick skin when asking for reduced culpability. The cascading effects of this event will affect marine life and industry for decades.
I digress.
More the shock to me is the alleged lack of disaster planning by all the oceanic companies playing in the deep sea. Just prior to the rig explosion, folks tussled about the final step; people disagreed about the what if. Admittedly, it’s been said BP was not readily prepared with a crisis plan in the event of the what if.
I do not allow the what-if game in my house. Children are notorious for, “Mom, what if…” In this case, that’s prescience.
Every company needs a what-if plan. In public relations we call it a crisis plan. In theory, crisis plans sit on a shelf awaiting a dust-off day. Crisis plans are meant to be revisited annually; updated to flow in sequence and aligned with changes in the life stream of a company.
Got a what-if plan?
Better get one…just in case.
You never know you need a what-if plan until — well, you need one. I think a what if plan is a lot like a fire escape route, you need it, but you hope you never have to use it. When you don’t have, everyone runs around like crazy pointing fingers at the other and asking who set the place on fire. One can only hope that other oil companies see the PR nightmare being caused by BPs lack of planning and put something in place ASAP.
Maranda, you’re so right! I keep seeing these huge corporations responsible for the fall of housing, fishing, tourism, and the like with seemingly no guilt about their errant behavior? Finger pointing is such the cowardly way out; no amount of money can repair the reality and outcome.
I appreciate you stopping by. Thank you.
You never know you need a what-if plan until — well, you need one. I think a what if plan is a lot like a fire escape route, you need it, but you hope you never have to use it. When you don’t have, everyone runs around like crazy pointing fingers at the other and asking who set the place on fire. One can only hope that other oil companies see the PR nightmare being caused by BPs lack of planning and put something in place ASAP.
+1
I appreciate your response to this post. Thank you. Perhaps you might see how crisis planning really ought to unfold at P&G; today’s post takes you down a path. The light bulb certainly turned on for me after reading that story in Advertising Age and how P&G is handling its crisis.
I’ll look forward to seeing you again, Minister!