49 claims on pp. 7–78 (fact 1, statement 24, evidence 18, conclusion 1, definition 5).
The systems approach gathers information from various community systems to provide a comprehensive and reliable assessment of an individual's thinking and behavior.
A process of gathering information from various community systems in order to provide a comprehensive and reliable assessment of an individual's thinking and behavior.
The publication offers a scalable eight-step framework for implementing a BTAM program in organizations of varying sizes and resources.
we offer a scalable eight-step framework for implementing a BTAM program in organizations of varying sizes and resources.
cite page 32 Part 2: A Guide for Workplace Violence Prevention
SOPs should include a high-level process map and decision tree illustrating the overall BTAM approach.
include a high-level process map and decision tree illustrating the overall process of the organization's BTAM approach
cite page 43 Step 2: Establish BTAM Program Policy and Procedures
BTAM teams should use the Systems Approach and explore relevant Assessment Themes when gathering information and determining risk.
BTAM teams should utilize the Systems Approach and explore relevant Assessment Themes
Figure 9 continues: Full Assessment (interviews and records review, Systems Approach, Assessment Themes, analysis) leads to a decision whether the IOC poses a risk of harm to self or others. If yes, Implement Risk Management Strategies, then Evaluate, repeating the decision; if no, a check whether the IOC could benefit from other resources. If no, Close BTAM Case (document all actions, findings, and determinations; follow record retention protocols; share information as appropriate), ending in case closure.
Full Assessment
The Systems Approach is a process of gathering information from various community systems to provide a comprehensive and reliable assessment of an individual's thinking and behavior.
A process of gathering information from various community systems in order to provide a comprehensive and reliable assessment of an individual's thinking and behavior
The U.S. Secret Service pioneered the Systems Approach.
the U.S. Secret Service pioneered the Systems Approach
The effectiveness of the BTAM team depends on its ability to gather substantive information from the people and systems with whom the individual of concern interacts.
The effectiveness of the BTAM team depends upon its ability to gather substantive information from the people and systems with whom the individual of concern interacts.
The Systems Approach allows BTAM teams to collect and synthesize pieces of information that may otherwise be siloed.
The Systems Approach allows BTAM teams to collect and synthesize pieces of information that may otherwise be siloed
In many cases, attackers had demonstrated concerning behavior at work, at home, and online before their attack, but no program existed to examine these behaviors collectively.
In many cases, attackers had demonstrated concerning behavior at work, at home, and online before their attack
By using the Systems Approach, BTAM teams can identify and synthesize information from numerous sources to make a holistic determination about risk.
By utilizing the Systems Approach, BTAM teams can identify and synthesize information from numerous sources to make a holistic determination about the risk
The Systems Approach can also be an effective tool for identifying potential risk management strategies.
This approach can also be an effective tool for identifying potential risk management strategies
Systems in a workplace can be internal components, such as security or human resources departments, or external community partners, such as law enforcement and mental health providers.
Systems in a workplace can be internal components, such as security or human resources departments, or external community partners, such as law enforcement and mental health providers.
In Figure 10, the center of the diagram represents the individual of concern who is the subject of the assessment.
The center of the diagram represents the individual of concern who is the subject of the assessment.
The circles around the individual of concern in Figure 10 represent some of the workplace and community systems that may provide important behavioral and contextual information about the individual to inform the BTAM process.
The circles surrounding the individual of concern represent some of the workplace and community systems that may provide important behavioral and contextual information about the individual to inform the BTAM process.
Figure 10 shows Supervisors & Coworkers as an internal system (orange circle) surrounding the individual of concern.
Supervisors & Coworkers (orange)
Why inferred figure description: the label is printed in the Figure 10 graphic; the colour and the internal/external grouping are read from the figure legend, not from running text
Figure 10 shows Human Resources as an internal system (orange circle) surrounding the individual of concern.
Human Resources (orange)
Why inferred figure description: the label is printed in the Figure 10 graphic; the colour and the internal/external grouping are read from the figure legend, not from running text
Figure 10 shows Physical Security as an internal system (orange circle) surrounding the individual of concern.
Physical Security (orange)
Why inferred figure description: the label is printed in the Figure 10 graphic; the colour and the internal/external grouping are read from the figure legend, not from running text
Figure 10 shows Legal as an internal system (orange circle) surrounding the individual of concern.
Legal (orange)
Why inferred figure description: the label is printed in the Figure 10 graphic; the colour and the internal/external grouping are read from the figure legend, not from running text
Figure 10 shows Information Technology as an internal system (orange circle) surrounding the individual of concern.
Information Technology (orange)
Why inferred figure description: the label is printed in the Figure 10 graphic; the colour and the internal/external grouping are read from the figure legend, not from running text
Figure 10 shows Cybersecurity & Insider Threat as an internal system (orange circle) surrounding the individual of concern.
Cybersecurity & Insider Threat (orange)
Why inferred figure description: the label is printed in the Figure 10 graphic; the colour and the internal/external grouping are read from the figure legend, not from running text
Figure 10 shows Law Enforcement as an external system (blue circle) surrounding the individual of concern.
Law Enforcement (blue)
Why inferred figure description: the label is printed in the Figure 10 graphic; the colour and the internal/external grouping are read from the figure legend, not from running text
Figure 10 shows Mental Health as an external system (blue circle) surrounding the individual of concern.
Mental Health (blue)
Why inferred figure description: the label is printed in the Figure 10 graphic; the colour and the internal/external grouping are read from the figure legend, not from running text
Figure 10 shows Judicial as an external system (blue circle) surrounding the individual of concern.
Judicial (blue)
Why inferred figure description: the label is printed in the Figure 10 graphic; the colour and the internal/external grouping are read from the figure legend, not from running text
Figure 10 shows Online & Social Media as an external system (blue circle) surrounding the individual of concern.
Online & Social Media (blue)
Why inferred figure description: the label is printed in the Figure 10 graphic; the colour and the internal/external grouping are read from the figure legend, not from running text
Figure 10 shows Family & Community as an external system (blue circle) surrounding the individual of concern.
Family & Community (blue)
Why inferred figure description: the label is printed in the Figure 10 graphic; the colour and the internal/external grouping are read from the figure legend, not from running text
A BTAM team should have immediate access to internal workplace systems (shown in orange in Figure 10); external systems (blue) lie outside the workplace.
orange circles represent internal systems to which a BTAM team should have immediate access, while blue circles represent external systems outside of the workplace
The general method for gathering information using the Systems Approach remains the same for all cases, though the specific systems used may differ from case to case.
the general method for gathering information using the Systems Approach remains the same for all cases
In this fictional example, a colleague's escalating statements led to interviews, a family check and coordinated outreach, after which the employee's workload was reduced and he was referred to counseling support.
employees at a software company submit a report of concern to the BTAM team about a colleague who is making increasingly agitated statements
The fictional examples described below highlight how different systems may be leveraged depending on the unique characteristics of a case.
how different systems may be leveraged depending on the unique characteristics of a case
Coworkers reported that the employee had claimed he might snap if things did not improve at work, and a supervisor reported a sharp decline in his performance and demeanor.
his coworkers report that he has claimed he might "snap" if things don't improve at work
An organization's assessment of a current employee may look different and may draw on different sources of information than the systems used when assessing a customer.
For instance, an organization's assessment of a current employee may look different and may leverage different sources of information compared to the systems used when assessing a customer.
Why inferred Typed statement, not conjecture: the 'may'/'might'/'can' is permissive guidance (what a team may do), not speculation about what is the case.
In the fictional software-company example, the Systems Approach surfaced a supervisor's report of a sharp decline in performance and demeanor, coworkers' reports that he said he might snap if things did not improve, and HR's report of a coworker's complaints about his rude and combative nature.
During their assessment, the BTAM team uses the Systems Approach to identify several concerns about the employee
In the fictional retail example, the BTAM team gathered information by interviewing store employees, directing company IT to review the customer's publicly available social media posts, and coordinating with law enforcement on a consensual interview about the posts.
The BTAM team uses the Systems Approach to gather information through interviews with employees from the store, direct the company IT department to further review the individual's publicly available social media posts, and coordinate with law enforcement to conduct a consensual interview with the individual regarding the social media posts.
The report defines internal systems as systems within the organization itself.
Internal systems are systems within the organization itself.
External systems are systems outside of the workplace that may be of particular importance when assessing individuals not directly affiliated with the organization, such as customers or visitors.
External systems are systems outside of the workplace
Organizations should preemptively establish collaborative relationships with those outside the organization, as highlighted in Step 1.
This highlights the importance of preemptively establishing collaborative relationships with those outside the organization
These partners can offer valuable insight into potential symptoms and diagnoses, help BTAM teams understand unusual patterns of behavior, and identify avenues for evaluation and treatment.
These partners can offer valuable insight into potential symptoms and diagnoses, help BTAM teams understand unusual patterns of behavior, and identify avenues for evaluation and treatment
Some employees of concern, particularly those engaging in highly concerning behaviors, may also warrant the use of external systems to gather information when assessing risk.
Some employees of concern, particularly those engaging in highly concerning behaviors, may also warrant the use of external systems to gather information when assessing risk.
Why inferred Typed statement: 'may also warrant the use of external systems' is guidance on when to use external systems, not a prediction.
BTAM teams may seek to gather and examine information from a variety of external systems, including law enforcement, judicial, mental health, and online and social media sources.
BTAM teams may seek to gather and examine information from a variety of external systems, including the following:
Why inferred Typed statement, not conjecture: the 'may'/'might'/'can' is permissive guidance (what a team may do), not speculation about what is the case.
Members of the community, such as family and friends, may offer critical insight into an individual's behavior and circumstances, especially during crises.
Members of the community (e.g., family, friends) may offer critical insight into an individual's behavior and current circumstances
Why inferred Descriptive 'may' about information sources; typed as guidance.
While BTAM teams gather information from internal and external systems, the Assessment Themes should guide evaluation of the individual's behaviors, personal circumstances, and relevant environmental factors that may increase, decrease, or contextualize concern.
While BTAM teams gather information from the internal and external systems relevant to the individual of concern, these Assessment Themes should guide the team’s evaluation of the individual’s behaviors, personal circumstances, and relevant environmental factors which may increase, decrease, or contextualize concern.
The BTAM team should make this determination by considering all information obtained using the Systems Approach and relevant Assessment Themes and situational factors.
The BTAM team should make this determination by considering all information obtained using the Systems Approach and considering relevant Assessment Themes
Specific strategies should be informed by four elements: addressing factors of concern, redirecting motives, creating a less prone situation, and using the Systems Approach.
Specific risk management strategies used during the BTAM process should be informed by the four foundational elements
Utilize the Systems Approach for management: collaborate with community stakeholders who can contribute (examples: leverage organizational resources, identify counseling services, engage family for support).
Collaborate with community stakeholders who can contribute.
The Systems Approach can identify risk management resources that can be leveraged to reduce the risk of violence for an individual of concern.
The Systems Approach (see Step 5) can identify risk management resources that can be leveraged to reduce the risk of violence for an individual of concern.
When, how, and to what degree internal and external systems are leveraged depends on the individual's affiliation, circumstances, and the resources available.
When, how, and to what degree different internal and external systems are leveraged will depend on the individual of concern's affiliation with the organization, the unique circumstances of the individual of concern, and the resources available.
Organizations should proactively develop a resource guide for the BTAM team to use during management, and the team should regularly review and revise it.
Organizations should proactively develop a resource guide for the BTAM team to use during management.
The resource guide should include common needs and risk factors, types of strategies to address them, and internal and external resources.
types of risk management strategies to address these needs
Why inferred Combines three bulleted items of the resource-guide list into one statement; the quote covers the middle item.
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