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 Back to 2005 Press Releases
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Maintaining Thriving Businesses Amid the Threat of Terrorism Requires Senior Management Leadership and Planning, Says International Security Expert John Kelly in Gartner Fellows Interview |
STAMFORD, Conn., August 23, 2005 — Preparations to identify and defend against potential acts of terrorism vary widely among multinational companies, despite the ongoing realities of terrorist attacks worldwide, according to former U.S. Ambassador John Kelly.
One result is some companies over-react to government warnings and other worst-case scenarios because the companies' intelligence on specific geographic locations tied to terror threats is not disciplined or current, Ambassador Kelly said. Over-reactions can create needless disruptions that damage short- and long-term business results.
At the same time, terrorism planning — protecting employees as well as business information and business centers — needs to be taken seriously by senior management and boards of directors.
"The first thing leadership needs to decide is whether operations in a particular country or a particular region of the world are critical to the company's continued success," Ambassador Kelly said in a Gartner Fellows Interview posted this month on www.gartner.com. "If they are, then contingency plans and precautionary measures need to be taken with regard to personnel, data, locations, business processes, recruitment of personnel and utilizing external advisors."
President of Atlanta-based John Kelly Consulting, Inc.; and ambassador-in-residence at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Ambassador Kelly served as the top U.S. diplomat in Beirut, Lebanon, from 1986 to 1988. The assignment, which placed him near frequent bombings, shellings and other terrorist acts during the Lebanese civil war, was one of his several overseas diplomatic roles during a long career with the U.S. State Department. In the interview, Ambassador Kelly describes how government officials and businesses in Beirut conducted operations in the midst of continuing terrorist activity.
The interview was conducted by David McCoy, a Gartner Fellow and research vice president of Gartner, Inc. Mr. McCoy is a leading authority on Business Process Management, Business Activity Monitoring and Application Integration.
Other key points made by Ambassador Kelly include:
- On scenario planning: It is important to try to anticipate what might happen, but we cannot allow that to immobilize ourselves either in business or in our personal lives. General Dwight Eisenhower once said, "Plans are worthless. Planning is everything." What he meant is the intellectual effort to try to understand what you might do in a given set of circumstances is worthwhile even though the actual plan that you've drawn up may be overtaken by events.
- On technology's role: Most terrorism attacks are aimed at targets of opportunity. Technology is helping terrorists — whether it's communications technology, explosive technology or technology that begins to get in the domain of weapons of mass destruction - chemical, biological or even nuclear threats.
- On the nuclear black market: The market exists in countries of the former Soviet Union, especially Russia. Most operators are con men, trying to dupe would-be purchasers into buying materials that are unsuitable as weapons — such as irradiated scrap metal. But sooner or later, someone will sell a nuclear weapon. More likely will be the sale of dangerous radioactive material, which will be the makings of a 'dirty bomb'. This could scatter radioactive material over a portion of a city, exposing large numbers of people to radiation poisoning.
- On whether to continue or suspend operations in high-risk locations: One U.S. automobile manufacturer shut down its operations; another continued with a locally-recruited and based staff. The first, effectively out of the market for six or seven years until the war ended in the 1990s, had to start again from zero. The second made a little money during the war and was in good position once it was over.
- On Israeli security standards: Israelis probably have no competitor when it comes to the vigilance and the amount of resources proportionally devoted to intelligence and reactive capability. Nevertheless, 800 Israelis have been killed as the result of terrorist attacks in the past four years in Israel and adjacent territories. No system of protection is perfect.
The Gartner Fellows Interview with Ambassador Kelly is available on Gartner's Web site.
The Gartner Fellows Interview features Gartner analysts each month in discussions with leaders in technology, business and government on significant industry issues. The Gartner Fellows are 15 Gartner research analysts, distinguished by their reputations as innovators and thought leaders. They collaborate with more than 600 Gartner research analysts worldwide to identify and examine emerging trends and technologies.
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About Gartner:
Gartner, Inc. is the leading provider of research and analysis on the global information technology industry. Gartner serves more than 10,000 clients, including chief information officers and other senior IT executives in corporations and government agencies, as well as technology companies and the investment community. The Company focuses on delivering objective, in-depth analysis and actionable advice to enable clients to make more informed business and technology decisions. The Company's businesses consist of Research and Events for IT professionals; Gartner Executive Programs, membership programs and peer networking services; and Gartner Consulting, customized engagements with a specific emphasis on outsourcing and IT management. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and has over 3,900 associates, including more than 1,100 research analysts and consultants, in more than 75 locations worldwide. For more information,
visit www.gartner.com.
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