Communication analysis

In the realm of risk communication, narratives hold immense power. At RSI, our in-depth communications analysis ensures that institutions craft messages that not only warn of potential threats but also underscore the latent opportunities within them. This balanced approach ensures clear, impactful, and nuanced risk communication. Media used to communicate these messages are also of major concern and require analysis.

In the context of communicating risk, RSI’s approach to providing clients with a risk-oriented communication analysis is meticulous and rooted in both scientific and sociological understanding of risk perception and stakeholder engagement. This service aims to dissect the ways in which risk is currently communicated within the organization and identify areas for improvement without delving into the implementation of a new communication strategy.

The first step in this process is typically an audit of existing risk communication channels and materials. This audit examines how effectively risk-related information is disseminated within the organization as well as to external stakeholders like partners, regulators, and the public. Materials such as internal memos, public notices, and social media posts may be reviewed. RSI uses specialized criteria to evaluate the clarity, accuracy, timeliness, and relevance of these communications.

Concurrently, RSI identifies key stakeholders who are integral to the risk communication process. Stakeholder mapping helps in understanding who needs what information and how they prefer to receive it. This step is crucial because different stakeholders may have different levels of risk tolerance, and their needs for information will differ accordingly.

Another critical element is a gap analysis. Here, RSI identifies shortcomings in the existing risk communication processes and strategies. This involves comparing current practices with industry best practices and regulatory guidelines, as well as assessing the consistency and reliability of the messaging across various channels and materials.

To supplement the audit and gap analysis, RSI often conducts interviews and focus groups with a cross-section of stakeholders. This helps to understand the perceptual and cognitive aspects of how risk is understood and acted upon. These qualitative insights can highlight potential disconnects between the organization’s intended messaging and stakeholder interpretation, providing an additional layer of depth to the analysis.

In summary, the objective of this analytical phase is to offer clients a lucid, data-driven view into the current state of their risk communication efforts. It provides a well-defined snapshot of where the organization stands and lays the groundwork for the subsequent development of a more effective risk communication strategy, though the implementation of such a strategy is not covered in this particular service.