Code Red in the Boardroom : Crisis Management as Organizational DNA

Even several years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, many organizations are ill-prepared to deal with crises, often opting to deal with them only after the fact. In Code Red in the Boardroom, Tim Coombs argues that crisis management should be a variety of activities that the organization performs daily to prevent crises from occurring. He defines the types of crises an organization might experience (both internal and external), draws from a wide variety of case examples, and showcases cutting-edge techniques that are being tested in the public and private sectors to demonstrate how crisis management can be "hardwired" into the corporate DNA, so that sensing, preventing, and responding quickly to crises become everyone's responsibility. In the process, he explores evolving roles for executives, managers, and front-line employees in communicating and implementing crisis plans. Ultimately, the book shows readers how proactive crisis management makes the company stronger, more resilient, and adaptable to change. A glossary of key terms and templates for establishing a crisis management program make this book an essential resource for all organizations.

W. Timothy Coombs is Associate Professor in the Communication Studies Department, Eastern Illinois University.

Preface
Introduction: Crises Happen, So be Prepared
Types of Crises
Attacks on Organizations
When things go Bad
When the Organization Misbehaves
Managing Crises
Crisis Sensing Network
Crisis Management Plan as Living Document
Crisis Management as DNA: Overcoming Resistance to the Crisis Management Process
Appendix A: Sample Crisis Management Plans Elements
Appendix B: Department of Homeland Security Fact Sheet for NIMS
Index