BCI Crisis Management & Incident Response 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In crisis communications, what is the 'dark site' strategy?
- Using encrypted channels to communicate with regulators during sensitive incidents
- A pre-built, ready-to-activate website containing crisis communication content (Correct answer)
- Restricting all public communications during the first 24 hours of a crisis
- An internal-only communication portal for crisis team members
Correct answer: A pre-built, ready-to-activate website containing crisis communication content
A dark site is a pre-prepared web presence that can be rapidly activated during a crisis to provide official information, controlling the narrative from the outset.
Question 2: What does the term 'command and control' mean in the context of incident response?
- Using software to automate incident response workflows
- A structured framework establishing clear authority, coordination, and information flow during an incident (Correct answer)
- The process of issuing legal orders to third-party vendors during a crisis
- Controlling media access to the incident scene
Correct answer: A structured framework establishing clear authority, coordination, and information flow during an incident
Command and control establishes clear lines of authority, accountability, and communication to ensure coordinated and effective incident response.
Question 3: Which framework is commonly referenced in BCI guidance for structuring incident command?
- PRINCE2
- Incident Command System (ICS) (Correct answer)
- ITIL Service Management
- ISO 27001 Controls
Correct answer: Incident Command System (ICS)
The Incident Command System (ICS) provides a standardized, scalable command structure widely adopted for managing emergencies and major incidents.
Question 4: What is 'rumor control' in crisis management?
- Suppressing all information to prevent panic among employees
- Proactively identifying and correcting misinformation with accurate, timely communications (Correct answer)
- Monitoring social media to identify who is spreading false information
- Restricting employee access to external news sources during a crisis
Correct answer: Proactively identifying and correcting misinformation with accurate, timely communications
Rumor control involves actively countering misinformation through consistent, timely, and factual communications to prevent panic and maintain trust.
Question 5: In BCI terms, what is the difference between an 'incident' and a 'crisis'?
- An incident is external; a crisis is always internal to the organization
- An incident is a disruptive event that can be managed within normal operations; a crisis exceeds normal coping capacity and threatens strategic objectives (Correct answer)
- An incident lasts less than 24 hours; a crisis lasts longer
- An incident involves physical damage; a crisis involves reputational damage only
Correct answer: An incident is a disruptive event that can be managed within normal operations; a crisis exceeds normal coping capacity and threatens strategic objectives
A crisis is distinguished by its scale, complexity, and potential to threaten the organization's strategy or survival, requiring activation of special management arrangements.
Question 6: What is the purpose of pre-defined 'trigger criteria' in an incident response plan?
- To automatically notify regulators when specific thresholds are breached
- To provide objective thresholds that determine when to escalate response levels or activate crisis plans (Correct answer)
- To limit the financial authority of crisis team members during a response
- To identify which employees are authorized to speak to the media
Correct answer: To provide objective thresholds that determine when to escalate response levels or activate crisis plans
Trigger criteria remove ambiguity by defining clear, measurable thresholds that signal when escalation or plan activation is required, reducing delay caused by subjective judgment.
Question 7: What does 'psychological first aid' involve in the context of an organizational crisis response?
- Administering medication to distressed employees during a crisis
- Providing immediate emotional support and practical assistance to help people cope with crisis-related distress (Correct answer)
- Conducting formal psychological assessments of all crisis team members
- Referring all affected employees to external mental health providers immediately
Correct answer: Providing immediate emotional support and practical assistance to help people cope with crisis-related distress
Psychological first aid focuses on practical emotional support, safety, comfort, and connection to resources rather than clinical intervention in the immediate aftermath.
BCI Crisis Management & Incident Response 3
In crisis communications, what is the 'dark site' strategy?