Danger Zone

• A significantly damaged reputation that can take years to repair

• Loss of employee loyalty

• A decreased level of productivity

• Lower sales

• Reduced profits

• The cost to hire lawyers, consultants and other experts
  to help reduce the damage

• The shift in focus that occurs when managing the crisis takes the company's attention away from its primary business

• Changes in senior-level executives and other personnel

• Necessary changes to re-engineer products and services

• Possible product or corporate name changes

Source: The Crisis Counselor

This article was originally published in the November 1998 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Danger Zone.