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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