5.7 Crisis management & contingency planning

Introduction - the difference between crisis management and contingency planning

• Contingency planning: preparing the immediate steps to be taken by an organization in the event of a crisis or emergency.

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• Crisis management: steps taken by an organization to limit the damage from a significant, damaging event by handling, containing and resolving it.

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Effective crisis management

• Transparency
  • This means being honest and open about the crisis, its causes - and consequences and what the organization intends to do in response to it.
• Communication
  • The way the organization communicates during a crisis can make the difference between the crisis escalating out of control and it being a minor setback.
• Speed
  • This refers to how much time there is to respond to a crisis or incident breaking in the media.
• Control
  • Keeping control of the crisis and not being swept along by events helps to present an image of calm and confidence.

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• Key steps in contingency planning:
  • Identify the potential disasters
  • Assess the likelihood of these occurring
  • Minimize the potential impact of crises
  • Plan for continued operations of the business

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