Extreme crime threatens business activities, employees, and property. It is critical to understand the criminal hot-spots and to prepare for the possibility of escalating violence in areas with known high crime.

Crime is increasing globally, in every region, and in many cases the authorities are overwhelmed and under prepared to deal with the violence.

Latin America and the Caribbean

The most dangerous countries in the region are El Salvador, Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico, and Haiti.

El Salvador is well known for its criminal gangs, including the MS-13. The country has the highest murder rate in the world, thanks largely to its history of poverty, civil war, porous borders, and its transit routes from South America to North America. Additionally, the government has few resources to fight the gangs.

Venezuela’s poverty and years of collusion between the government and drug traffickers has contributed to the violent crime in Venezuela. The country currently is experiencing high rates of murder, violent crime, robbery and kidnapping, and there is no will by the government to stop the activity.

The very high murder and crime rate in Honduras is closely linked to drug activity in the country. Honduras has long acted as a secure transit route from South America to North America, and drug gangs also engage in murder, extortion, human trafficking and other criminal activities. Political will to stop the criminal activity is non-existent and politicians are likely complicit in the drug trade. This is exemplified by the sentencing of the brother of the former president to life in prison for trafficking.

Mexico’s border with the United States has made it one of the most appealing jurisdictions for criminal gangs linked to drug trafficking. The fight for hegemony among the gangs, and the effort by the government to quash cartel activity has increased violence.  The cartels have become increasingly vicious, and the gangs permeate – and impact – the economy and business in the country.

Gang violence has turned Haiti into a failed state. The country, which is the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, is almost completely controlled by gangs, which have coopted the security forces and the government, allowing them full rein over the country. Businessmen report a complete lack of ability to move products, meet with potential customers, keep their employees safe, or conduct any kind of business.

While these countries are most often cited for violence, the rest of the region is also experiencing increasing crime rates. Already this year, the Department of State has cautioned visitors about visiting the Bahamas and Jamaica, after each country suffered from unusually high murder rates. The Bahamas saw 18 murders in January, and Jamaica’s warning came after 36 murders the same month.

Chile, historically one of the least dangerous countries in the region, has reported a 32% increase in murders, rapes, and gun violence. Uruguay, also considered safe and stable, has become the latest stop for drug traffickers, and has reported a 25% increase in murders in 2023.

Europe

Outside of Russia and Ukraine, Europe is largely considered safe for both business and pleasure.

However, there are some disturbing trends in that region as well.

Italy continues to house both the infamous Cosa Nostra in Sicily and ‘Ndrangheta of Calabria. ‘Ndrangheta controls approximately 97 percent of the cocaine trade in Europe, according to Italy’s anti-drug unit, through the Port of Gioia Tauro, which it controls. Organized crime in Italy recently benefitted from the refugee crisis, which increased human smuggling by the groups.

Even traditionally calm Sweden is experiencing an upsurge of violence. Sweden has a history of gang violence, and statistics from 2023 suggest that violence is increasing. The country reported 290 shootings, 400 arrests for firearms charges, and 100 arrests for crimes related to explosives.

Additionally, the Ukraine war is also contributing to higher criminal activity in border areas, which could spread as the economic devastation and refugee crisis continues.

Africa

Poverty, corruption, civil war, porous borders, terrorism, gangs, and drug trafficking have impacted several African countries.

The US Department of State advises against any travel to Burkina Faso.

The advisory notes, “Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Burkina Faso. Terrorists may conduct attacks anywhere with little or no warning. Targets could include hotels, restaurants, police stations, customs offices, areas at or near mining sites, places of worship, military posts, and schools.

Kidnapping and hostage taking is a threat throughout the country. On May 10, 2019 a hostage rescue operation freed four international hostages that had been kidnapped in Burkina Faso and in neighboring Benin.

The Government of Burkina Faso has maintained a state of emergency in the entire East and Sahel regions, the provinces of Kossi and Sourou in the Boucle de Mouhoun region, the province of Kenedougou in the Hauts Bassins region, the province of Loroum in the North region, and the province of Koulpelogo in the Center-East region.”

Chad is saddled with poverty, corruption, and terrorism. Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist group, engages in a wide variety of criminal activities including property attacks, smuggling, kidnapping, extortion, and homicide.

Heavy, unchecked drug trafficking has made Guinea-Bissau unstable and has “undermined governance” in the country. Essentially, there are no checks on gang activity in the country.

Cameroon, Guinea, Mali, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic are also experiencing high crime rates with little government control.

Middle East and North Africa

The region is fraught with terrorism, poverty, civil war, violence, and institutions unprepared to – or uninterested in – addressing the problems.
That could increase with the Israel – Hamas war, as regional players become more involved.

Afghanistan is often-cited as one of the most dangerous countries in the region. Political instability, years of conflict, poverty, porous borders, and high terrorist activity make Afghanistan extremely dangerous. The country is also home to drug traffickers and mercenaries trafficking guns across the region.

Yemen is off-limits to US tourists because of “terrorism, civil unrest, crime, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict, and landmines.” The United States closed its Embassy in 2015, and has not re-opened due to the humanitarian crisis, the ongoing civil war, and high criminal activity. The country is facing a devastating food shortage, and the Israel-Hamas war has re-ignited the conflict and threatened additional criminal activities.

Almost every country in the region carries a high risk, including Yemen, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria.

Asia-Pacific Region

Crime in Pakistan is fueled by the drug trade and terrorist activities. Terrorists in Pakistan – including Taliban groups that easily cross between Afghanistan and Pakistan – fund their activities with all types of criminal activities. Heroin produced in Afghanistan transits Pakistan and goes through small ports to the rest of the world.

Papua New Guinea suffers from a myriad of criminal issues. There are a large number of armed gangs, some motivated by tribal conflict and some are thugs without other motivation. After tribal gangs killed 70 people last August, the government announced it would use lethal force to stop the violence, but it has failed to have any impact. The country continues to experience high rates of robbery, assault, murder, rape, and kidnapping.

Arm Yourself with Knowledge

Every region, every country, every city has some level of crime and risk. Understanding that risk and taking action to protect yourself is critical to maintaining operations.

Ignoring the danger, or listening to uninformed sources who “know all about that country” can lead to serious disruptions that could be avoided with objective, informed intelligence to help you make the right decisions and to identify escalating criminal trends that require a pivot or an evacuation.

The post Global Crime: Awareness, Preparedness in the Face of Rising Criminal Activity appeared first on CTC International.

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Xi’s Pro Business Performance

Xi was at his most charming in his talk sponsored by the U.S.-China Business Council and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, as well as Apple’s Tim Cook, BlackRock’s CEO Larry Fink and Mastercard’s CEO Merit Janow.

He talked about the beauty of America and reminisced about his stay with a family in Iowa 40 years ago when he first visited the US. He smiled and joked throughout the talk, and made references to China’s interest in being “a partner and a friend” to the United States. He also cautioned against “a zero sum game, in which one wins at the expense of the other.” He highlighted an initiative to invite 50,000 American students to study in China as an important move to build relationships, and said, “We need to build more bridges and pave more roads for people-to-people exchanges, instead of erecting various obstacles and creating a chilling effect.”

Xi also said “No matter how the international situation evolves, China’s resolve to foster a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment will not change.”

Other often-cited comments by Xi at the CEO summit included promising to protect foreign businesses operating in China, allowing foreign investment in a greater number of industries, and putting foreign investors on the same playing field as Chinese investors.

Xi himself described his plan as taking “heart warming measures” to reduce the barriers to foreign investment in China.

The amiable and peaceful Xi was so good that he drew a standing ovation from the 400 CEO’s and business leaders attending the talk.

Glaring Omissions

Xi’s speech was big on rhetoric and short on action.

Glaringly absent from the speech was any discussion of The Law on Foreign Relations or the Anti-Espionage Law, both of which directly contradict the warm and fuzzy rhetoric from Xi.

The Law on Foreign Relations of the People’s Republic of China, passed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on 28 June 2023, is aimed at “safeguarding sovereignty and rejuvenating the nation.” The Law also grants the Chinese government expanded ability to counter “actions that impact China’s sovereignty and security.”

The wording of the law expands previous laws that allow Beijing to target any individual or business that back international sanctions, and states, \”any organization or individual who commits acts that are detrimental to China\’s national interests in violation of this Law and other applicable laws in the course of engaging in international exchanges shall be held accountable by law.\” 

The day after the law was published, the head of the Office of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi wrote an editorial in the People’s Daily explaining that China was confronting a growing number of unpredictable factors and should continuously expand its legal “toolbox” for “foreign struggles”. He wrote, “[We should] make full use of the Foreign Relations Law as a legal tool – through legislative, law enforcement, judicial and other means – to carry out our fight in response to acts of containment, interference, sanctions and destruction.”

The Foreign Relations law clearly warns any business that complies with sanctions against China that they could face prosecution if China believes the sanctions are counter to international law. 

Even more concerning is the Anti-Espionage Law.

That Law, effective 1 July 2023, broadens the definition of espionage and allows state security to take action against espionage activity that is not considered a criminal act.

China has already moved against companies it claims are committing espionage under the new law. 

In August, China fined the due diligence firm Mintz Group $1.5 million after a raid showed the company conducted “unapproved” investigations. The Chinese Government had closed the companies Beijing office in March and detained two local executives before issuing the fine.

Last April, even before the law was enacted, authorities raided the Shanghai offices of Bain & Co and questioned local leadership. It is now citing the law as legal justification for its actions.

In May, authorities raided Capvision offices and questioned employees, and later accused the firm of leaking classified information on the Communist Party and military operations. Then, in October, Beijing announced Capvision had “passed” its security checks. The company publicly thanked Beijing and promised it “will take the lead to defend the security bottom line in the development of the nation’s consulting industry,” widely seen as a statement directed by the Government of China.

Then in October, less than a month before Xi’s pro-business speech, Chinese officials arrested an executive and two former employees of WPP, one of the world’s largest advertising companies. The same month, security forces officially charged an executive of Astellas Pharma, a Japanese national, who it had arrested last March. Also in October, Chinese regulators initiated an audit of Foxconn, which makes iPhones in China, in a move widely seen as an effort to pressure Apple.

The Anti-Espionage Law raised serious concerns with the US. The Department of State issued a travel advisory for China, urging Americans to “Reconsider travel to Mainland China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions.” And US commerce secretary Gina Raimondo warned China “that U.S. businesses might stop investing in their country without prompt action to address complaints about worsening conditions due to raids on firms, unexplained fines and unpredictable official behavior.”

Xi failed to mention any of that in his talk. Nor did he even mention that they exist.

Other Concerns

Xi also didn’t mention the targeting of China’s own business leaders.

So far this year, more than a dozen Chinese business leaders have been detained or “gone missing.” Among the casualties are Zhou Zheng, the former deputy general manager of China’s largest state-owned food manufacturer and processor; Zhang Hongli, a former senior executive at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China; and Zhao Bingxian, known as China’s Warren Buffet and CEO of Wohua Pharmaceuticals.

Some skeptics even questions Xi’s hearts-and-minds campaign to woo US students to China. The FBI has warned American students “don’t be a pawn.” The Bureau highlights the story of Glenn Duffie Shriver who was recruited by Chinese intelligence when he was in school in Shanghai. Could Xi’s invitation to American students also provide a new group of young individuals for China’s Ministry of State Security?

So, Is Xi’s Plea Sincere?

China is currently facing unprecedented economic difficulty, and foreign investment is a key part of the recovery plan. So, in that way, Xi is sincere and wants nothing more than US investment in the country.

But don’t get too starry-eyed over nice words. Beijing will continue to apply laws and regulation arbitrarily as it sees benefit or threat, and real change will remain elusive.

Until the Chinese Communist Party, and Xi, make substantial changes to the political philosophy and legal framework of the PRC, commit to true rule of law, and level the playing field, nothing will really change.

So take Xi’s “heartwarming measures” with a huge grain of salt, and protect your people, your intellectual property, your facilities, and your business in China.

The post China’s Xi Plays to US Business – But Is He Sincere? appeared first on CTC International.

Fraud Awareness Week, 12-18 November, was created by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners to, “Encourage business leaders and employees to proactively take steps to minimize the impact of fraud by promoting anti-fraud awareness and education. Organizations and individuals are encouraged to register as Official Supporters prior to International Fraud Awareness Week, and to host training opportunities, distribute anti-fraud information or otherwise promote anti-fraud activities during the week.”

The thing about fraud is, like not knowing it’s fraud awareness week, you often don’t realize it until it’s too late. People often don’t see it coming – or don’t want to believe the too good to be true is, well, too good to be true – and don’t even recognize what is happening until the fraud is over.

And fraud comes in all shapes and sizes. It runs the gamut from the text message saying your UPS order is held up (click here) to that famous Nigerian prince needing your help to Medicare fraud to Ponzi schemes to massive, disruptive and expensive constructs that steal pensions and savings and leave only a shadow behind.

Author Yepoka Yeebo recently wrote, “Anansi’s Gold,” the story of John Ackah Blay-Miezah, who ran a 20-year scam where he convinced the world he had access to money, diamonds and gold previously held by the Ghanian government and then hidden from British colonists. He said he had access to a $27 billion trust fund and that he was setting up investments to help others maximize their wealth while also helping the people of Ghana. And they believed him. He always appeared laden with jewelry and expensive suits, and he talked the talk investors wanted to hear. Yeebo explained that he gave investors excitement, which they craved, and they wanted to be around Blay-Miezah, who was described as magnetic, charming and handsome. In the end, Blay-Miezah swindled at least 300 people out of $15 million. He died in Ghana before he could be held accountable for his crime.

Fraud can also happen in the least likely arenas. Like wine. Rudy Kurniawan was a wine connoisseur who bought and sold large amounts of wine and later committed massive fraud against wealthy and intelligent wine enthusiasts. One of his fakes, eight magnums of 1947 Chateau Lafleur, for $24.7 million dollars. Things started to unravel when Kurniawan got greedy and forgot to do his homework. Some of the names he started selling were not even in business at the time he claimed, and several of his top wine auction efforts were cancelled. Billionaire Bill Koch filed a suit against him in 2009, claiming Kurniawan sold him fake wine, and in 2013, Kurniwan was sentenced to 10  years in a US prison for selling millions of dollars in fake rare wine vintages. He was released after serving his sentence and extradited to Indonesia.

Of course, there is always the personal fraud. One victim of a Philippines-based ring  reported that he had met a young lady on line who was being forced into prostitution by a man in Manilla. She told him about her dream of becoming a nurse, and how the only thing she wanted was a chance to go to school. She first reached out to the victim to ask him for money to buy herself and her younger brother food, because she hadn’t eaten in several days. She then asked for money for bus fare, for school books, for online classes, and for clothes for her brother to go to school. Her big ask, about a month later, was for money to get to the  United States and to bring her brother, which required paying off the man who was trafficking her. The victim only reported the situation to authorities out of concern that the girl was being trafficked, and he did not realize he was actually speaking to a leader of the fraud ring until authorities explained the scam to him. He declined to prosecute and refused to file a report with his name on it.

There’s also the very famous fraudsters. Charles Ponzi, who created the Ponzi scheme, convinced potential investors he would return 40 to 50% on their investment in International Postal Reply Coupons in 90 days. As he got new investors, he made payments to the original investors, who saw it as proof of his promises and invested more. Then, in July 1920, The Boston Post ran a front page article revealing Ponzi’s fraud. Many of the investors refused to believe the article and stood by Ponzi, but Ponzi started to realize his scam was unraveling. In August, federal regulators raided Ponzi’s office, prompting yet another front page story by the Boston Post. This time, the article include information about Ponzi’s past arrests for check forgery and smuggling illegal Italian immigrants across the border. Eventually, Ponzi surrendered to authorities and served three years for mail fraud.

Everyone is likely to run into some fraudster at some point in their lives. It’s pervasive and technology has added a whole new dimension to the scams these individuals perpetrate.

Unfortunately, people are hesitant to report fraud. It’s embarrassing to admit you fell for something and that you were taken advantage of. It can also be difficult to get law enforcement involved, given stretched government resources and lack of will on the part of the victims.

While the best way to avoid being the victim of a fraudster is to completely and professionally vet them, there also may be opportunity after the fraud to recover money or at least to ensure the predator is neutered from targeting another victim.

Professional intelligence firms can help with both the vetting and the recovery, and can even do it in a quiet way to avoid negative press or public recognition of the role of the victim in the case.

Happy International Fraud Awareness Week!

The post It’s International Fraud Awareness Week – Are you Safe From Fraud? appeared first on CTC International.

People

The human cost of the war is already immense. Both Israelis and Palestinians are caught, and the situation will undoubtedly deteriorate before it improves.

There is also an impact on the workforce and on businesses that rely on workers in Israel and Gaza. Israeli businesses are now focused on the conflict, and Reuters reports that disruptions in operations are likely.

Companies in the travel industry, including airlines and cruise lines, anticipate difficult fourth quarters because of the war and tech companies already report “pauses in spending from a large number of primary brand-oriented advertising campaigns.”

That situation will worsen if the conflict continues or expands. Israel has already announced plans to call up 300,000 reservists, many of whom will come from US-based businesses, and the country is already seeing an influx of Israeli’s returning to help the war effort.

Supply Chain

The Middle East is home to some of the busiest shipping routes in the world, including the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Approximately 1.27 billion tons of cargo go through the Suez Canal every year, and 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports go through the Strait of Hormuz.

Any disruption to shipping lanes in the Middle East would directly impact the United States. According to the US Trade Representative, the US imports $84.9 billion from the Middle East, and exports approximately $71.8 billion to the Middle East annually. The US exports $31.8 billion in services to the Middle East and imports $23.5 billion in services annually from the Middle East. Leading services exports from the U.S. to the Middle East were in the financial services, travel, and transportation sectors.

Oil

Probably the most obvious impact of conflict in the Middle East is the price of oil. Some pundits note that Washington’s decision to remove Venezuela from the sanctions list is also a move to diversify American reliance on Middle Eastern oil. However, the global economy currently has no way to replace all Middle Eastern oil, and an intensifying conflict will result in higher oil prices.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned last week that the US is “concerned” the war between Israel and Hamas could expand to a broader conflict throughout the Middle East. Syria, Lebanon and Egypt have already experienced some skirmishes.

The biggest risk in terms of oil is an expansion that involves direct conflict between Israel and Iran. If that happens, the US has warned oil could reach $150 per barrel.

And oil is critical not only for making gasoline, but also for making a multitude of other products. Ranken Energy explains that while oil is important for making gasoline – and that increases in prices of gas will raise transportation and manufacturing costs – it is also used to make a large number of other products. Petroleum products are used in everything from cosmetics to pharmaceuticals, from golf balls to sports cars. It is even used to make clothing.

All of these, and more, will be impacted by higher oil prices.

Finance

The Israel-Hamas war will also impact global finance.

The stock market will face increased volatility because of uncertainty. Higher oil prices could cause a global economic downturn, triggering layoffs and higher consumer prices.

Analysts are warning that an expanded war could significantly undermine the global economy, and it could push the US into a true recession.

Interest rates will likely rise, putting more pressure on American consumers and on any businesses that depend on financing.

Geopolitics & Alliances

The other wild card as the conflict unfolds is how it will impact newly-warmed relations between Arab countries and Israel. Saudi Arabia started normalization talks in March, but halted them with the start of the conflict.

Any decision by Arab countries to side with Hamas would further erode the geopolitical situation and cause additional pressure on international businesses.

Outside of Israel and Gaza, there is also an increased threat of terrorist attacks and instability by supporters of both sides and by opportunists looking to make gains while the international community is distracted with the Middle Eastern tensions and the war in Ukraine.

Opportunities

The companies that come out of the crisis unscathed will likely be those nimble businesses already making contingency plans. Diversification of supply chains, customers, and transportation networks is critical to surviving even in crisis.

Companies that specialize in security and intelligence will have immediate opportunity, while those focused on reconstruction and development are poised to make gains after the end of the conflict.

The hardest hit companies will be those that are not prepared.

As Maya Angelou said, hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and you will be unsurprised by anything in between.

The post Hamas-Israel War Impacts Business: Supply Chain, Oil, Financial Markets, and Geopolitics appeared first on CTC International.

The government shutdown has been averted for 45 days.  But instead of sitting back and waiting for the next ball to drop, smart investors are preparing for what’s ahead.

If there is a shutdown, any business that deals with employees of the USG or that operates in areas heavily populated by government employees – military bases, NASA facilities, civilian operations – will see immediate impact. Restaurants, retail operators, day care facilities, dog walkers, and others in those areas will face immediate hurt as government employees brace for a potential shut down. Government employees are already saving pennies in anticipation of weeks, or months, without a paycheck.

Even outside those bubbles, there will be impact. If you think a shut down won’t hurt because you aren’t a government employee, you need to think again. 

Small businesses are at risk. The White House warned that Small Businesses will face hardship if the Federal Government shuts down, saying  it would cause would have “devastating consequences for small businesses and needlessly undermine America’s economic progress.” The White House estimates small businesses would lose access to $100 million in loans per day if the government stops working.

That will have its own ripple effect, curbing hiring and spending by small businesses.

Additionally, small businesses with exposure to the US Government will face delays in processing payments and delivering products and services.

There is also risk to the average consumer.

Food inspections and hazardous waste inspections may stop, raising the risk to the public. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) warns that routine inspections by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will stop, “escalating the chances of food contamination or other hazards impacting public health” and urges the government to come to an agreement to avoid risks to US consumers.

Air travel may also face problems. CNN noted that while air traffic controlers and TSA employees are technically “essential” and will continue working, they will not get paid until after the impasse is resolved. That raises the risk of “calling out” because employees are working but not receiving pay, which happened during the 2018 shutdown. Lack of workers will cause long delays and will cost the travel industry as much as $140 million per day.

Rather than wait for the shutdown, businesses can take the opportunity now to gather strategic intelligence to examine supply chains, customer base, expenses, and other areas with exposure to the government or government employees and try to shift or diversify before the crisis hits.

If businesses wait until the shut down is a reality, they are too late. It will no longer be possible to pivot if the shutdown is a reality.

And remember, “never waste a crisis.” For companies looking for a competitive advantage, the crisis is likely to hit cash-strapped or single-customer companies harder than others. This could create acquisition prospects that previously would not have considered selling.

Like all things, the key is having accurate data to make decisions, and to know information before an event happens.

The post Strategic Intelligence Can Give Businesses a Competitive Advantage During a Government Shutdown appeared first on CTC International.

Corporations that rely on lawyers and accountants to conduct due diligence after engaging an
acquisition target are acting too late. Intelligence helps identify opportunities and risks and
provides in-depth information to help make decisions about pricing, timing, quality, and other
issues critical to making a purchase.

The time to engage an intelligence firm is before you pick your acquisition target. The best
opportunities are often the ones you don’t know about. Intelligence firms can help identify the
full gamut of possibilities globally and give options to prospective buyers that they may not even
know exist. Whether a company is looking for an established business with a strong customer
base to increase market share or distribute inventory or whether a company is seeking a premier
manufacturer of a complimentary product to increase capabilities, a global intelligence firm can
help find strong candidates to consider purchasing.

Once a buyer finds an appropriate target, they need to understand the true capabilities of the firm,
the underlying problems, risks from acquisition, the motivation to sell, and other data points that
will sway both the sale and the sale price. Traditional due diligence provides a partial picture of
the firm, but what is the data room hiding? Environmental issues, investigations that have not yet
resulted in litigation, reputational risks, and capabilities all impact the benefits of the investment
as well as the true price a target will accept. Knowing the issues before purchase will help avoid
overpaying and can help sidestep potentially catastrophic issues beneath the surface. They can
also highlight unpolished gems.

Experienced global intelligence firms are a critical part of any acquisition strategy, and can
provide the data to identify the best target at the best price and to help avoid major missteps that
undermine a successful acquisition.

The post The Value of Intelligence for Acquisitions appeared first on CTC International.

As the UAW strike painfully illustrates, strikes are expensive.

According to Investors Business Daily, the economic losses from the UAW strike exceeded $1.6 billion in the first week alone. And no one avoids impact. Companies lost $511 million; auto workers lost wages of $107 million and consumers and dealers lost $470 million.

As the strike widens, the impact widens too. Parts distributors, machining companies, suppliers, retailers, and many other sectors will feel pain at the same time they are dealing with inflation, a possible government shut down, and soaring oil and gas prices.

Using targeted intelligence to understand the dynamics behind the strike and identifying the individuals most likely to hear the advantages of reaching a deal – on both sides – can help tame rhetoric and assist in reaching an agreement sooner, and possibly before it escalates to a strike.

Intelligence can also help identify the best method for delivering the message to all players and crafting clear information. Is social media the best platform – and if so, which social media outlet? Or, are mailers, face-to-face meetings, or emails more effective?

Pre-emptive intelligence can also gauge the true willingness of both sides to reach a settlement and avoid shut down.

Without intelligence, all parties are at the whim of agenda-driven commentators or rumor, which substantially dampens the prospects for resolution.

Understanding the true issues; identifying areas of common ground; finding leaders interested in resolution; using correct communication channels; and crafting accurate messaging are all benefits of using intelligence to avoid, or end, a strike.

The post Unions, Strikes, and Intelligence appeared first on CTC International.

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