Synopses & Reviews
Praise for AVOIDING DISASTER
"Avoiding Disaster is comprehensive, accurate, and exceptionally useful. It is written for the corporate manager/executive tasked with developing and/or managing the strategic function the author calls 'disaster avoidance.' This book provides the best description I have seen of what should be done, and what skills and knowledge are required to do it. I designed and teach the graduate-level course in Corporate Crisis Management and Business Continuity in the George Washington University's Crisis, Emergency, and Risk Management degree program. I intend to use John Laye's book as a text."
-- John R. Harrald, Director, Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management
The George Washington University
"If anyone can teach you how to avoid disaster, it is John Laye. His book, which is aptly titled Avoiding Disaster, is written in a straightforward, easy-to-understand, and yet technically accurate manner. John brings his lifelong hands-on experience to the general corporate environment in the same easygoing way that he teaches a class. The examples and theory are clear and all you have to do is follow the process and you are on your way to minimizing your corporate liability . . . in most cases actually avoiding disaster. I highly recommend this book to business continuity professionals, risk managers, corporate safety and security staff, and executives at every organization that is forward-thinking and needs to survive those crises that are facing our society today."
-- Johnathan Tal, President and CEO, Tal Global Corporation
"John Laye's Avoiding Disaster: How to Keep Your Business Going When Catastrophe Strikes is an important text that will be found in college classrooms and libraries and on the desks of business continuity professionals. Laye grounds his book with solid business principles while also highlighting how disaster planning can be central to a company's survival. He combines firsthand and practical knowledge with key regulations and case studies. Both veterans and people new to the field will find his examples and resources beneficial. Although written primarily for the private sector, people in the public sector of disaster management will find his segments on the media and communication, strategic planning, hazard analysis, and many other topics useful and educational. I know this is a book that will be on my reference bookshelf."
-- David M. Neal, PhD, Professor and Associate Director, Institute for Emergency Preparedness
Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama
"Avoiding Disaster is a must-read for everyone who wants to ensure the protection and the continuity of their business."
-- Ian I. Mitroff, Harold Quinton Distinguished Professor of Business Policy
Professor of Journalism, Annenberg School for Communication
"Following September 11, organizations have renewed their interest in building resilience to avoid distress. No one knows what the next catastrophe will be or when it will occur. It is therefore important to take on board the philosophy of 'being prepared.' Business Continuity Management (BCM) is an important management discipline that enables organizations to build effective response mechanisms. John Laye's book provides an excellent grounding in the principles behind BCM and will greatly assist those planning to avoid disasters in the future."
-- John Sharp, Chief Executive, The Business Continuity Institute, www.thebci.org
Review
“…no book can provide everything that you will need but this does give you a number of great ideas and avenues to pursue…”(M2 Best Books, 27 January 2003)
Synopsis
The best thing you can do for your business is to be ready for anything
When Disaster Strikes offers business leaders the peace of mind of knowing that their business is ready for any contingency, no matter how extreme. This guide is designed to be used as both a preparatory resource for when times are good, and an emergency reference when times are bad. This book gets managers up-to-speed on what they should be prepared to deal with and offers real solutions for putting those business continuity plans in place. From natural and man-made disasters to catastrophic computer hack attacks, When Disaster Strikes is the ultimate weapon for any manager determined to help the business survive no matter what.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 235-244) and index.
Synopsis
Earthquakes, fires, mainframe crashes, hacker attacks, terrorism . . . Whether you operate in the private sector or the public sector, failure to prepare for disruptive events can cripple your organization when disaster strikes and even endanger its very survival. Avoiding Disaster provides the contingency planning methods managers must have to cope with catastrophes-natural disasters, man-made events, or technological calamities alike.
In these uncertain times, it's especially important that you be ready for whatever comes. In the event of a disaster, managers must engage policy directives that are clear, unequivocal, and directed for maximum beneficial effect. As case studies within the book illustrate, quick, decisive, and well-reasoned management is the single most important ingredient for survival in a crisis. This valuable resource offers expert guidance and thoughtful advice about planning for and dealing with worst-case scenarios, ensuring that your business or organization will survive no matter what happens.
You might think that your organization-especially if you manage a large company-could not be significantly affected by any one event. But often, a disaster spirals out of control to bring down an organization that would have survived if it had been ready. In fact, any organization can be undone by a catastrophe if the proper steps aren't taken in advance. And if everything falls apart, it's managers who'll ultimately pay the price. So in order to protect your organization and your job, you must assess threats, prepare for them, and move quickly when the worst case scenarios start to play.
Whether you manage a Fortune 500 company, a government agency, or a not-for-profit, Avoiding Disaster offers the tips, tools, and techniques you need in times of duress. You'll develop the plans you'll need for any contingency and know which events you should be prepared for, what training your employees need, and which supplies you should have on hand before the event. You'll learn how to limit the damage done to employee, consumer, and stockholder confidence when things go wrong, and know that you can lead effectively when leaders are needed most.
During a crisis, the worst thing a manager can do is not know what to do. You won't have time to debate, but you will have time to act if you're already prepared. With Avoiding Disaster on your bookshelf, you'll find the peace of mind that comes with knowing you're ready for anything.
About the Author
JOHN LAYE, FBCI, is a specialist in contingency and business continuity planning and a frequent lecturer for the Federal EmergencyManagement Agency's Emergency Manage-ment Institute. He is Director Emeritus of the University of California's Continuing Education in Business and Management Program for managers developing emergency plans. He is also the former president of the California Emergency Services Association.
Table of Contents
Foreword.
Introduction.
Chapter 1: Getting Started: Answering the Whys.
Chapter 2: Basic Stuff.
Chapter 3: Manage It or . . ..
Chapter 4: The Senior Manager’s Primer: A Chapter of Observations and Advice Uniquely for Senior Managers.
Chapter 5: Good Work! Tell Everyone! A Chapter about Communicating.
Chapter 6: Today, Business Is Different.
Chapter 7: Recovery Is Really Different.
Chapter 8: They Can Help You, or . . ..
Chapter 9: Rules, Regulations, and Standards.
Chapter 10: FAQs . . . and Common Sense.
Chapter 11: Help beyond These Covers.
Notes.
Index.