What is a Crisis Management Plan?

A Crisis Management Plan maps out how an organisation should respond to any organisational crisis. The Plan itself is divided into three stages: pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis. Negative events can be seemingly small, but a crisis of any size can have far-reaching and long-lasting effects. With COVID-19 at the forefront of our minds, it is easy to forget that events like a product recall, supply shortage or a slanderous message posted online, can become a crisis if they are not responded to effectively. The best Crisis Management Plans are personalised to your business’ individual needs and specific requirements.

Three Stages of a Crisis Management Plan

1. Pre-Crisis

The pre-crisis phase of a Crisis Management Plan involves evaluating any strategic risks that could eventuate, should a crisis occur, and using strategies to mitigate such risks. It is a preventative stage that requires preparation and oversight to spot potential vulnerabilities that could be exacerbated by a crisis. Organisations are more likely to effectively handle a crisis when they have a Crisis Management Plan in place that is updated at least annually. A CMP is all about strategic oversight and strategic risks. Conducting annual exercises to test these plans and having a designated Crisis Management Team also help to deal with crises. A Crisis Management Team will enact any crisis management plans in the event of a crisis.

2. Crisis

In the crisis phase, the negative event has occurred or is just about to commence. Although this is the shortest phase, it is the most noticeable to you, your employees, and your customers. A crisis can be as obvious as a natural disaster or as discreet as a disgruntled employee. Having an already prepared Crisis Management Plan in place can help your business to effectively respond to the situation in a manner that minimises any potentially damaging effects of such a crisis.

3. Post-Crisis

After the physical and/or reputational crisis has occurred, you enter the recovery phase. The business slowly returns to its pre-crisis phase and business operations return to normal. Now is the time to evaluate your response and implement any strategies to more effectively manage such a crisis should it happen again.

Contact Resilient Services for a Crisis Management Plan tailored to your business

Just because crises are an inevitable part of conducting business, it doesn’t mean that they have to be the downfall of your organisation. Implementing a Crisis Management Plan can help your business to predict, manage, and mitigate negative impacts throughout the three phases of a crisis.

We hope your company hasn’t suffered greatly due to COVID-19 or any other crisis, and that it won’t in the future. To examine your existing Crisis Management Plan or to create a new Plan tailored to your specific business needs, contact Resilient Services today.