May 7, 2010
Crisis Management Expert Says BP Has Done Everything Right, but Still Will Be Blamed for Deepwater Horizon Explosion, Massive Oil Spill
By David M. Kinchen
Huntingtonnews.net Editor
Rene Henry wrote the book on crisis management -- literally -- so I asked him via e-mail how BP is faring in the court of public opinion in the wake of last month's Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana.
Henry, a Charleston, WV native who lives in Seattle, is the author of "Communicating in a Crisis: A Guide for Management" (for my review: http://archives.huntingtonnews.net/columns/080930-kinchen-columnsbookreview.html). I've known him for about 30 years, dating back to my days as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times.
Here is his response to my e-mail query:
"... BP, in my opinion, has done everything by the book. They accepted responsibility and said it was their fault. BP said they would make full restitution and were responsible for all costs, whatever the cost. The company apologized. And the executives showed remorse for the victims.
"The executives have been available and accessible to the media. There was a tremendous underestimate of the amount of spill and while this could have been an honest mistake, many are now challenging them for withholding information. In my opinion, it was an honest mistake and not a deliberate false statement.
"Unfortunately, for whatever reason, but public does not have any sympathy for BP or does the company have believability credibility.
"What has been overshadowed by media coverage is the fact that BP did not build the rig, it was not their rig (they leased it), they did not manufacture the safety valve that failed (has anyone reported this?) and, unlike Massey Energy, whose coal mines have been cited time and again for safety violations, BP was in full safety compliance.
"Engineers say a backup safety valve that could be triggered sonically may have prevented the spill, buy Congress caved into the oil lobby and did not pass legislation requiring it. But would anyone ever blame Congress? Much less ask Congress to be accountable and responsible?
"BP was the first to break ranks with its oil colleagues when in 1997 it said it was investing $20 million in what it described as one of the largest and most technologically advanced solar manufacturing facilities in the world to be located in Fairfield, Calif. When John Browne was BP's CEO, he always talked green, but this disaster will set BP back years. Whatever happens, BP will be blamed for it all."
Rene A. Henry has authored six books and writes on a variety of subjects including sports, customer service, crisis management and communications, and marketing public relations. His widely published commentaries and blogs can be read on his website at www.renehenry.com.
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Crisis Management Expert Says BP Has Done Everything Right, but Still Will Be Blamed for Deepwater Horizon Explosion, Massive Oil Spill
By David M. Kinchen
Huntingtonnews.net Editor
Rene Henry wrote the book on crisis management -- literally -- so I asked him via e-mail how BP is faring in the court of public opinion in the wake of last month's Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana.
Henry, a Charleston, WV native who lives in Seattle, is the author of "Communicating in a Crisis: A Guide for Management" (for my review: http://archives.huntingtonnews.net/columns/080930-kinchen-columnsbookreview.html). I've known him for about 30 years, dating back to my days as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times.
Here is his response to my e-mail query:
"... BP, in my opinion, has done everything by the book. They accepted responsibility and said it was their fault. BP said they would make full restitution and were responsible for all costs, whatever the cost. The company apologized. And the executives showed remorse for the victims.
"The executives have been available and accessible to the media. There was a tremendous underestimate of the amount of spill and while this could have been an honest mistake, many are now challenging them for withholding information. In my opinion, it was an honest mistake and not a deliberate false statement.
"Unfortunately, for whatever reason, but public does not have any sympathy for BP or does the company have believability credibility.
"What has been overshadowed by media coverage is the fact that BP did not build the rig, it was not their rig (they leased it), they did not manufacture the safety valve that failed (has anyone reported this?) and, unlike Massey Energy, whose coal mines have been cited time and again for safety violations, BP was in full safety compliance.
"Engineers say a backup safety valve that could be triggered sonically may have prevented the spill, buy Congress caved into the oil lobby and did not pass legislation requiring it. But would anyone ever blame Congress? Much less ask Congress to be accountable and responsible?
"BP was the first to break ranks with its oil colleagues when in 1997 it said it was investing $20 million in what it described as one of the largest and most technologically advanced solar manufacturing facilities in the world to be located in Fairfield, Calif. When John Browne was BP's CEO, he always talked green, but this disaster will set BP back years. Whatever happens, BP will be blamed for it all."
Rene A. Henry has authored six books and writes on a variety of subjects including sports, customer service, crisis management and communications, and marketing public relations. His widely published commentaries and blogs can be read on his website at www.renehenry.com.
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