Security Planning at Grange Electronics International Ltd - Essay Example

Introduction Grange Electronics International Limited (GEIL) is facing a crisis which may adversely affect the company’s business in Nyland Asia. Over the past two years the company’s business in the region has suffered a drastic drawback as a result of changing political climate. As a result of the political upheaval GEIL has already witnessed significant losses in a market which was previously profitable to the company. In developing countries political forces tend to have a disruptive effect on the overall economy of the country. In Nyland the maoist have been gradually gaining popularity which is the prime cause of the changing political landscape. The maoist are an offshoot of communist’s (cpnm.org) who are believers of the Marxist ideology, thus the maoist are practitioners of dialectic materialism; a theory which abhors capitalism and condemns private ownership of businesses (Marxist Internet Archive). The situation in Nyland is a power tussle between the existing democratic government and the moist who are gradually gaining power. Domestic terrorism is widely prevalent in Nyland and this is a serious threat to GEIL’s business interest in the region. The forthcoming elections in Nyland will be a deciding factor for determination of GEIL’s continued existence in Nyland. In event of success of maoist party in the forthcoming elections; the likely hood of development of an unfavorable business environment seems highly predictable. The threats to GEIL’s business interest in Nyland have already become evident due to some recent events. There have been reported cases of staff members being intimidated by political activists which has caused wide spread fear among staff members resulting in decreased productivity and rise in attrition rate. The local management at Nyland has reported receiving request from local goons for donations in exchange of protection; this has further accentuated the situation creating a feeling of insecurity throughout the organization. There have also been reports of militants infiltrating the unions; this news is particularly distressing as it may lead to worsening of the business environment which may result in a situation where management may cease to have any form of control over workers and staff members. In view of the situation it seems highly feasible that top management of GEIL seriously consider the future of its enterprise in Nyland. Under prevailing circumstances the need for the CEO to visit Nyland is justifiable since important decisions have to be made regarding the future of GEIL in Nyland. The company will have to make key strategies with regards to its investments in Nyland with due consideration of the prevailing volatile conditions. A comprehensive strategy will have to be implemented in order to come to terms with the prevailing crisis. In wake of such unrest it is important that the CEO be given an executive protection during his trip to Nyland. A detailed executive security plan needs to be implemented by with the help of a professional security agency which has adequate experience of providing such services. Strategic Planning It is important that any strategy formulation done at the top management should be done in view of all aspects related to the crisis as any wrong decision may lead to potentially disastrous consequences. Three main aspects are crucial to a strategic decision making process these are; Business Continuity, Business Continuity Plan, and Business Impact Analysis. Business Continuity It is important to analyze all issues of concern through the lens of business continuity, no mater how trivial an issue may seem it is important for the strategy maker to assess its implication on the continuity of business. GEIL’s business in Nyland is surely in trouble but the crisis in Nyland is not likely to have an impact on the GEIL’s business venture in other parts of the world. However it may have some affect on production and export. The continuity of GEIL’s business in Nyland is uncertain because the prevailing political crisis may force a complete shut down of all operations in Nyland. Business Continuity Plan If the crisis in Nyland aggravates further there is no possible aspect of operation that can be continued, however the company will have to decide on the feasibility of liquidating its resources in Nyland. Another option is to cease all operations but maintain the facilities in anticipation of stabilization of the political scenario, this approach may require further financial investment. Business Impact Analysis The prevailing conditions in Nyland have already caused significant losses, the return on investments have assumed a negative value since continued investment in maintenance of men and machinery has generated little or no gain. The reduced sales directly affect production thereby causing an increase in the fixed per unit costs. The volatility of the situation is a potential risk to GEIL’s assets in Nyland, since possibility of plunder and destruction cannot be ruled out in wake of political unrest. The following is a detailed analysis of each strategic course of action available to gial; 1. Carry on operations in spite of resulting losses; this option will help the company to start full scale operations immediately after the turmoil has ceased, however the company will be forced to bear the maintenance costs and the resulting losses. 2. Cease operations but continue to maintain the assets; this option involves stopping the operations altogether but continuing investment in maintenance of physical assets. This course of action will allow the company to have its physical facilities ready at hand, however if the company wants to start operation then it will have to reacquire other resources such as manpower. This course of option will help GEIL to maintain its resources in Nyland at minimum cost. 3. Liquidate the company’s assets in Nyland; this option will allow GEIL to curtail ongoing expenses in supporting operations in an un profitable market. However the management has to consider the fact that Nyland was a profitable market for the company and incase the political stability is restored in Nyland then the company will have to reinvest large sums of money to reacquire its physical facilities and other resources. The CEO of GEIL will have take into consideration various factors about Political, cultural, business, security environment of Nyland before choosing a course of action that is most appropriate to GEIL’s investments in Nyland. Operational Planning The primary concern for the security services is to facilitate a safe transit for the company’s CEO from Heathrow in London to GEIL’s business facilities in Nyland and then back to Heathrow. The entire process has its inherent set of complexities which need to be addressed in order to come up with a reliable action plan. A comprehensive action plan will have following component plans; 1. Surveillance of potential risk factors in Nyland 2. Arrangement of Transportation facility in Nyland. 3. Security arrangement at CEO’s place of lodging and at GEIL’s premises in Nyland 4. Setting up of Temporary and Permanent Control centre to facilitate communication 5. Contingency measures to thwart attack by militants or mobs and make arrangements to deal with injuries. 6. Security arrangements to facilitate safe transit form Heathrow to Nyland Airport 1. Surveillance of potential risk factors in Nyland A large contingent of security personnel has to be in place in Nyland prior to he CEO’s visit. The arrangements will be made by three of HWSSL’s officers. Who will seek local help by acquiring local expertise from a Nyland based security agency. A team of well trained security personnel will have to be acquired with the help of the local security agency. Minimum of 50 security personnel will be needed during the 7 day’s of the CEO’s stay in Nyand. The following tasks need to be performed in the surveillance stage of the operation; 1. Identification of a secure lodging facility for Mr. Archibald and making security arrangement at place of lodging. 2. Identify Security threats at GEIL’s premises and deploy security measures to counter the threats. 3. Identify security threats along the transit route and set measures to counter these threats. The ideal accommodation for the CEO would be premium hotel; with assistance from local security agency HWSSL’s officers should locate a Hotel in a secure locality. The rooms need to be acquired at-least 3 days prior to the Mr. Archibald’s visit this will allow security officers to scan the room and adjoining areas for security threat and also give them opportunity to deploy security staff in a covert manner. A thorough security check needs to be made at GEIL’s premises, this will involve a thorough check up of indoor and outdoor premises and setting up of metal detectors to ensure that no member of staff becomes a potential security hazard. The security service officers will have to survey the road from airport to the CEO’s lodging premises and from there to GEIL’s premises. The security forces will need to identify any potential threats on the route. The men will have to be on a look out for following security hazards; Bad stretches of road; Potholed stretches of roads are a potential security hazard as they tend to slow the convoy and increase the risk of accidents due to increased possibility of vehicles getting a flat tire. If the convoy is stooped due to such an accident attackers will get an opportunity to attack the convoy. Possible Ambush site: All places which offer a hideout to possible attackers need to be determined and if possible a route be fixed which eliminates ambush site, however if it is not possible eliminate ambush sites then security personnel need to be positioned at these places in order to prevent possibility of attack. Busy intersections: Busy intersections are best avoided as the convoy may have to stop at these intersections thereby increasing the chances of attack. 2. Arrangement of Transportation It is necessary to use a convoy in order to convey Mr. Archibald form one place to another as traveling in a convoy is more successful in thwarting an attack by a sniper. About 12 vehicles will have to be acquired locally and six of them would be a part of official convoy. During the transit it would be necessary to deploy security staff at positions which may be a potential threat to the convoy. The deployment of security men in patrol vehicles will serve as an early warning system incase a hostile situation develop. HWSSL will need to acquire the vehicles several days prior to the CEO’s visit in order to carry out detailed inspection and eliminate possibility of equipment failure or sabotage. 3. Security arrangements at CEO’s place of lodging and at GEIL’s premises Security blanket will have to be deployed during the CEO’s stay at Nyland. Security men will have to be positioned at key locations in the Hotel and a patrol team has to be arranged to detect snipers. About 10 security personnel will have to be deployed at the hotel at all times. Similar security arrangements need to be made at GEIL’s business premises with 20 security men on the stand by at all times. 4. Setting up Control Centers Communication is crucial to management of the entire operation at Nyland, a permanent control centre would have to be set up near CEO’s accommodation. The control centre will have to be monitored by one of the HWSSL’s officer at all times and would be manned by two security personnel. A temporary control centre would be a part of the CEO’s convoy since security deployment unit along the transit route will have to be in constant communication with the convoy. A heavy duty long range ground radio system will have to acquire for the main control centre while a powerful mobile unit would be adequate for the temporary control centre. The security deployment will use hand held devices to facilitate communication. The main control centre will be required to regularly update the HWSSL headquarters with news of latest events. 5.Contingency approach to thwart attack There is a probability that the convoy may be attacked by militants or mobs or snipers, the accommodation facility and the GEIL’s business premises may also be targets of similar attack during Mr. Archibald’s visit. To control such events it is necessary that security personnel possess firearms and mob control aids such as mortar and teargas shells. Weapons will have to be acquired through the local security agency. In event of an attack the first resort would be to use non lethal weapons however if the nature of attack poses significant threat to the CEO then lethal means of counterattack will have to be implemented. Ambulances would be deployed along with security units along transit route so that they may rush to aid the convoy in event of a life threatening salutation. 6. Security arrangement for transit form Heathrow to Nyland Airport A one man escort will be required during the flight form Heathrow to Nyland. The team leader will be an ideal escort for Mr. Archibald as he can brief the CEO of the elaborate security arrangements made by HWSSL for his security. Resource Requirement for Successful Implementation of Operational Plan Apart from the team leader two more officers from HWSSL will be required to handle the Nyland operation. Ms Jane Smith and Mr. John Walker are ideal officers for the Nyland assignment. Ms. Jane a former intelligence analyst with the intelligence agency has already run successful operations in Asia. Her back ground in intelligence makes her a better judge of the current events in Nyland and her predictions and forecast will be valuable in the course of operations. Mr. John Walker’s services are also of importance to the Nyland operation as he has good links with various security agencies and the Nyland operation is totally dependent on services of a local security agency. Communication devices can be transported from UK to Nyland but weapons will have to be acquired locally there is a need for 50 rapid fire rifles and four revolvers along with adequate ammunition. Mob control aids also have to be acquired locally from Nyland, these need to be acquired in adequate quantity because there is a high probability of mob attack. Manpower will be sourced locally through a security agency, about 50 men would be required at all time for 7 days of Mr. Archibald’s visit. Medical practitioners and medical facilities will have to be available in order to counter any life threatening situation. Executive Protection Although it may seem that Grange Electronics International Limited is indulging in an unnecessary expenditure by providing executive protection to its CEO, it must be understood that this is just a minor investment done to ensure that the company does not make major losses by loosing its CEO. Incidents like kidnapping of top management executives is becoming commonplace and many companies have lost enormous sums of money in ransom, thus investment in Executive Protection protects the business from unnecessary expenses. The value of executive protection is increased many folds if top executives have to visit potentially hazardous places, the loss of an executives life under such circumstances has a negative impact on the business. The following consequences may occur as a result CEO’s death ; Disruption of Business; If a CEO of a major company gets killed, the company is momentarily deprived of leadership which leads to a disruption of the business. It may take a long time for the company to recover its operational stability after such an event. Depreciation in Value of Shares; Death of an influential CEO leads to a widespread panic which is reflected in the depreciating value of the company’s shares. As a result of depreciation of shares the company also looses business. Uncertainty associated with struggle for succession; Sudden death of a CEO creates a major disparity in the top management of the company. It takes long time for the top management to make a decision regarding succesion. Thus the business suffers for a long time without proper leadership. Further more the succeeding CEO will take sometime to adapt to overwhelming responsibilities associated to the position of CEO. Thus Executive Protection can be regarded as an investment that may protect the company from external threats. Conclusion Security planning is a complex task and requires a lot of expertise. As has been seen in the case of Executive Protection for CEO of Grange Electronics International Limited there are many aspects involved in making a security arrangement. The complexity of security planning is increased greatly if the executive to be protected is traveling to an international location. Importance of assigning the EP process to a reputed security company with verifiable track record cannot be undermined if executives are traveling to potentially hazardous places. The role of the security agency is not merely limited to providing safety rather they have to provide the executive with the freedom to work. As is evident form the security planning described in the preceding sections, the security measures although stringent allow the executive to carry on with his work unobtrusively. Use of qualified, trained and experienced planners is crucial in process of developing an executive protection action plan. If planners can acquire trustworthy local help then the entire action plan can have a high degree of success. Reference List Foundations of Marxism, Marxist Internet Archive, Viewed on November 11, 2008 < http://www.marxists.org/subject/students/index.htm> Cpnm.org, Viewed on November 2, 2008 . Read More