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The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance

The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance

Written by: Manager’s Guide to Terrorism Risk and Insurance
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Every day, you hear the words terrorism and terrorist. These words have different meanings to different people. Some are confused by the terms. This chapter will broadly cover terrorism, as it affects businesses. The Manager's Guide explores how terrorism affects business planning and operations. In these podcasts, you will hear:

• How different people define terrorism.
• The interrelationship between terrorism and crime.
• When workplace violence becomes terrorism.
• How terrorism affects business and why businesses are targeted.
• The influence of politics in driving terrorism.
• Mental health issues and personality traits of terrorists.
• Some steps you can take to identify terrorists.

All this and more are the subjects of this podcast.

Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Economics
Episodes
  • The Manager's Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance - Episode Five- Active Shooters

    The Manager's Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance - Episode Five- Active Shooters
    Apr 1 2026
    Hello and Welcome to The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance – Essential for Today’s Business. The authors are David J. Smith and Mark D. Silinsky. This is a Rothstein Publishing product. These are podcasts analyzing the intersection of today’s business practices and international terrorism. They are brought as a courtesy of Kensington Security Consulting, which brings education to national security. In this fifth episode, we turn to active shooters in the workplace. What should you do if somebody starts shooting? How can you protect your coworkers? An Active Shooter at Work Active shooter situations are unpredictable and can develop quickly. When the shooting begins, many of your employees will likely be terrified, and some may become immobilized with fear. Make sure your security manager has a plan in place and that it has been tested. If a shooting occurs, consider these steps: If you can evacuate safely, do so. If evacuation isn't possible, shelter in place. If the shooter comes near you or if you feel the need to intervene to protect your employees or customers, take action against the attacker. Evacuate If an escape route is available, use it to evacuate. As a business leader, you may have specific responsibilities during an active shooter situation. Make sure you understand these duties, as well as those of your superiors and subordinates. Ensure your employees are aware of this guidance, and rehearse the plan with your boss and some of your most trusted employees. Clearly communicate that if there is an active shooter, they will have particular responsibilities. Have an Escape Route and Plan Have an escape route and plan, and make sure your employees know it. In some active shooter situations, knowing the exit locations can save lives. During the November 2015 shooting at the Bataclan music club in Paris, a guard opened the backdoor and shouted to patrons to come to him. This action saved lives, demonstrating that quick thinking during an active shooter event could be life-saving for your company as well. Ensure your employees are aware of an escape route. Be prepared for the possibility that an attacker might be blocking evacuation or stationed outside to prevent people from fleeing. Stay alert to these risks. Have an Escape Route and Plan Have an escape route and plan in place, and ensure your employees are familiar with it. In some active shooter situations, knowing the exit locations can save lives. For example, in Paris in November 2015, there was a shooting at the Bataclan music club. A guard ensured the backdoor was opened and shouted to patrons to come to his voice. This saved some lives, and quick thinking during an active shooter incident could save lives in your company as well. Make sure to identify escape routes for your employees. If an attack is sophisticated, a terrorist might prevent evacuation or be positioned outside to kill those fleeing. Be aware of these possibilities. Some workers may refuse to leave, even if instructed by police or rescue units, often out of obligation or courage. However, you should encourage anyone who can evacuate to do so, and to leave all belongings behind. You can help facilitate escape by remaining calm but firm. Assert your authority and insist that everyone leave. Prevent others from entering areas where an active shooter may be present. Remember to keep your hands visible and follow instructions from first responders. Be cautious when moving wounded individuals, as sometimes moving a severely injured person can worsen the situation. Those with flesh wounds or who need support can be assisted out. This is often a difficult judgment call that requires your best discretion. Call emergency services when you are in a safe location. Shelter in Place Sometimes it’s not possible to evacuate a building. You need to have your employees find a place where the active shooter is less likely to find them. Tell them to silence their cell phones, stay quiet and calm, and call emergency personnel if possible. Try to stay out of the shooter’s view and look for a structure that is more likely to protect you if he starts shooting. Check for an escape route so you don’t get trapped, and see if the door has locks. Even if there are locks, use furniture to block the door. If there are any windows in your shelter area, see if you can open them. Be ready if the perpetrator enters the room. Take Action Against the Active Shooter Sometimes, you and your employees cannot evacuate or find shelter. If your life is in immediate danger, try to overpower the shooter by acting aggressively. Are there heavy items you can throw? Are there knives or scissors? What about heavy objects? Yelling might help. Make sure you're committed to your actions. If you need to charge at him, plan to go through with it. Support First Responder Efforts No matter where you are, help is likely to arrive eventually. In some countries, police and ...
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    6 mins
  • The Manager's Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance - Episode Three - What is Terrorism?

    The Manager's Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance - Episode Three - What is Terrorism?
    Apr 1 2026
    Hello and Welcome to The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance – Essential for Today’s Business. The authors are David J. Smith and Mark D. Silinsky. This is a Rothstein Publishing product. These are podcasts analyzing the intersection of today’s business practices and international terrorism. They are brought as a courtesy of Kensington Security Consulting, which brings education to national security. In episode three we will define terrorism and see how it , we will broadly cover terrorism and its impact on businesses. Defining Terrorism "The struggle to define terrorism is sometimes as hard as the struggle against terrorism itself." -- Boaz Ganor (Pipes, 2015, June 2). It has not been possible to create a single, universally accepted definition of terrorism. The term is often surrounded by political controversy. For example, you could describe the killers of the cartoonists at the satirical French Charlie Hebdo magazine as terrorists. However, editors at the influential British Broadcasting Corporation's Arabic service refused to use the term, explaining, “Terrorism is such a loaded word.” The United Nations has struggled for more than a decade to define terrorism. One useful definition comes from senior writers at the journal Risk Management. Written in 2002, it is very comprehensive: "An act, including, but not limited to, the use of force or violence, committed by any person or persons acting on behalf of or in connection with any organization, creating serious violence against a person or serious damage to property or a significant risk to public health or safety, undertaken to influence a government or civilian population for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, or ideological cause." Although lengthy, this definition is thorough. The US government defines terrorism as “any activity that (A) involves a violent act or an act dangerous to human life that is a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or any state, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the United States or any state; and (B) appears to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government through intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnapping." Additionally, it is summarized more concisely as "premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets" (United States Code, 1984; US Department of State, 2006). The authors of this book adopt this definition of terrorism, which helps distinguish between non-terrorist acts of violence and terrorist acts. Politics is a key aspect of terrorism. If someone steals from your company purely out of greed, that isn't terrorism. The thief isn't making a political statement; they just want something for free. The thief probably has no interest in politics and likely doesn't link your company to political issues. However, if someone threatens to bomb your company for political reasons, that is terrorism. Whether or not nation-states can also be considered terrorist states is beyond this book's scope. But if a threat or act of violence is politically motivated, this book will classify it as terrorism. Workplace Violence and Terrorism In today’s world, terrorist violence is quite common. If your business has offices in the Middle East and Europe, you probably worry about terrorism. But in the US, most workplace violence has nothing to do with terrorism or politics. Each year, workplace violence results in nearly two million non-fatal acts and about 600 employee deaths. It has remained among the top four causes of death at work for years. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines workplace violence as any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site. It ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide. This definition does not address motive. Most motives for workplace violence are unrelated to global politics or religious anger. You have probably supervised employees who are discontent or unhappy. If you have fired, demoted, or laid off employees, you may have been subjected to verbal abuse or physical threats. You may have feared for your safety. When you disciplined an employee, gave a poor evaluation, or spoke firmly about inadequate performance, you likely noticed that the employee was upset. This is normal, but workplace violence is not. Two case studies illustrate the possible connection between workplace violence and terrorism. In both cases, the perpetrators had political as well as personal grievances. This concludes the third episode of The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance – Essential for Today’s Business. The full book is available for purchase online from Rothstein Publishing. Nothing in this ...
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    5 mins
  • The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance – Essential for Today’s Business - Episode Four - More Indicators of Terror

    The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance – Essential for Today’s Business - Episode Four - More Indicators of Terror
    Apr 1 2026
    Hello and Welcome to The Manager’s Guide to Terrorism, Risk, and Insurance – Essential for Today’s Business. The authors are David J. Smith and Mark D. Silinsky. This is a Rothstein Publishing product. These are podcasts analyzing the intersection of today’s business practices and international terrorism. They are brought as a courtesy of Kensington Security Consulting, which brings education to national security. In this fourth podcast in the series, we continue to identify indicators that a worker may commit violence. Aggression or Threats Toward Coworkers Sometimes, anger goes beyond words. An employee might clench their fists and snarl while discussing political or social issues. Each employee has their own personal struggles and concerns. Sometimes, personal issues are brought into the workplace. There are issues you can address. A troubled employee might need some time off, counseling, or simply a boss willing to listen. However, if the anger is unexplained or driven by religious or racial themes, you could face a serious problem, and you should act immediately. Be very careful in handling this, and ensure you document the event. Notify higher management levels. The Alton Nolen and Nidal Hasan cases are good examples. Presence of Unauthorized Weapons How easy is it for a troubled employee to bring a weapon onto your company premises? You need to understand your company’s rules regarding weapons. There is no universal policy; different companies have different standards. In some parts of the U.S., employees might keep a rifle or shotgun in their vehicle’s rack, especially during hunting season. It may be common for employees to go bird shooting in the late afternoon at local blinds. Your company might see this as a local tradition and be okay with firearms as long as they stay in the vehicle. Others prohibit any firearms on the premises. Still, some allow certain employees to carry firearms under specific conditions. If your company is one of those, make sure the policy is clear. In the Nolen case, at least two weapons were involved. Nolen used a large knife to kill, but he was shot by a man legally permitted to carry a concealed weapon. Does your company have a policy on employees carrying a concealed handgun? It’s important to know, and your employees need to know too. Employees should understand what management considers a weapon. What you see as a pocketknife might be regarded as a weapon by someone else. Work with security to create a clear and shared understanding of how your company defines weapons. Encourage employees to inform security or their supervisor if they have concerns. Attempts to Communicate with Known Extremist Groups There is an old adage that a man is judged by the company he keeps. Men and women in your organization certainly belong to a wide variety of groups that include religious, political, athletic, social, and volunteer organizations. However, some groups have dark agendas. If these groups operate through legal channels, they may not pose a problem for your company. It is often not illegal to be a member of organizations that many people would consider extremist. But if they advocate violence or try to subvert American laws or values, they could cross into illegal activity. It can be very difficult to determine if one of your employees is connected with an extremist group or if that connection poses a security risk for your business. However, if one of your employees communicates with an extremist organization during work hours, they are forcing the issue. It will help you to become familiar with sources that indicate what some people consider to be extremist or hate organizations. For example, the two sources below are controversial and have been both praised and criticized. You may find it helpful to familiarize yourself with these and other sites. The Southern Poverty Law Center is a left-of-center advocacy group that monitors what it considers hate groups in the US. Its director has enough credibility to be asked to testify before Congress. You may find its list of hate groups useful. The Center’s critics say that it has politicized terrorism and underestimates the threat of radical Islam.Another source is Jihad Watch, run by Robert Spencer. He has written many books on militant Islam. His website offers valuable links that can provide information on terrorist groups in the area you plan to visit or invest in. Terrorism or Workplace Violence or Both? Fort Hood: Initially, the victims didn’t know who was shooting. Shots rang out, soldiers fell to the floor, and people screamed. On November 5, 2009, Major Nidal Hasan, an Army psychiatrist who had embraced fundamentalist Islam, brought two handguns to a facility for soldiers going to and from Afghanistan. The shooter began shouting “Allahu Akbar,” meaning “God is Greatest” in Arabic, and then started shooting anyone in uniform. When the chaos ended, 13 men and women were dead, and ...
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    5 mins
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