For disaster plans to be truly effective, an understanding of the full range of behavioral responses across the different stages of disasters and emergencies should serve as a core component of the broader, interdisciplinary planning process.

The recent benchmarking study conducted by Continuity Insights Magazine and KPMG, revealed that 35% of respondents indicated that the "weakest link" in the continuity plans and strategy was "people risks." Traditional business continuity plans do not adequately take to into account the many forces of human behavior, especially when scenarios include extreme fear, harmful behaviors and survival responses. Planners often wrongly assumed that the organization’s emergency plans will be automatically accepted, understood and acted upon by all. The principles of human psychology inform us that the behavior of individuals and groups is shaped more by numerous intangible factors than by official or executive demand.

In most organizations, the term “behavioral” is typically associated with the mental health, wellness or employee assistance programs (EAPs) that address a range of post-incident emotional and psychological needs for employees and their families. Our proactive approach allows for much broader understanding of behavior, encouraging the desired emergency response from employees, responders and leaders, during the emergency.

The central premise behind Business Continuity Plannng Human Factors (BCP^h) is straightforward: in a crisis, people will be part of the problem or part of the solution. BCP^h is the application of scientifically accepted behavioral principles (individual, group, organizational and occupational) to aid in the development of disaster and emergency policies, plans and programs. XBRM helps organizations translate behavioral research findings into actionable information for decision makers and crisis managers.

Our model encompasses many research approaches, such as: case studies, theoretical analyses, computer models, literature reviews, and psychological studies. This holistic, evidence-informed approach allows our team to help yours in developing the most behaviorally-accurate emergency plans possible. The goal of this approach is to reduce the frequent of human variability in all phases of emergency management.

The Human Factor in Business Continuity Planning

Extreme Behavioral Risk Management LLC (XBRM) is a crisis management consulting practice specialized in the human factor in emergency management, disaster recovery and homeland security. XBRM helps prepare an organization’s decision-makers and first responders by providing education, training and resources to accurately address emotional and behavioral responses across all phases of emergency management. XBRM is home to some of the world’s foremost experts in disaster human factors, and offers a compressive portfolio of products and services addressing this important facet of crisis management.