Issues management

Issues can come in various guises, but if they are not anticipated, handled or mitigated then they can quickly become full-scale crises. By being aware of your vulnerabilities and potential issues, your business can be prepared for the worst and work to ensure it never happens.

De Wintern has managed many large scale issues, and know the pressure and heat the a crisis can generate. The ‘cauldron’ that is the middle of a crisis is not the time to ask if your consultant actually knows how to manage a crisis. Too many PR firms claim crisis management as a service offering, so make sure your consultant has the right experience and tools to help.

Amongst many high pressure situations, De Wintern has advised clients through three Royal Commissions:

• 1999 Longford Gas Crisis Royal Commission
• 2002  HIH Royal Commission
• 2010 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

Issues management is a corporate discipline that takes companies through a defined process. They involve Issues Framework Management models that help audit, identify, manage and potentially stop issues before they become a crisis.

With that information we can fairly accurately predict the potential outcomes of any issue and therefore avoid it becoming a crisis. That’s not to say your reputation might not take a hit, but it won’t be catastrophic and there will be a shorter recovery time (and lower cost).

We use a specific methodology to guide clients through a crisis, but more importantly, to help them emerge stronger and better prepared in the future.

• Issues vulnerability audits
• Issues management framework
• Crisis management
• Reputation management and recovery