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.
Who Uses Crisis Management Plans?
Crisis Management Plans are essential across a wide range of sectors and industries. Organisations that face legal, operational, environmental, reputational, or financial risks benefit greatly from having a CMP in place. Common users include:
Corporations – From SMEs to multinationals, businesses rely on CMPs to protect stakeholders, revenue, and reputation.
Healthcare Providers – Hospitals and aged care facilities require crisis plans to manage medical emergencies, cyberattacks, and service disruptions.
Government Agencies – Local councils and state/federal departments use CMPs to respond to natural disasters, pandemics, or civil unrest.
Educational Institutions – Schools and universities must plan for incidents such as lockdowns, bomb threats, or crises involving student wellbeing.
Critical Infrastructure Providers – Utilities, transport, and telecommunications providers need robust plans to maintain operations during power outages, IT failures, or security breaches.
Non-profit Organisations – Charities and NGOs use CMPs to navigate issues such as fraud, leadership scandals, or humanitarian crises.
Legal and Financial Firms – These sectors may use CMPs for managing compliance breaches, lawsuits, or data breaches.
In short, any organisation that values business continuity and risk mitigation should have a tailored crisis management plan.
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.
Industries that are offered Crisis Management Plans
Resilient Services provides a range of Crisis Management Plans to a variety of industries. These industries include, but are not limited to:
Why Crisis Management Planning Matters
Having a Crisis Management Plan is not just a best practice—it’s essential for organisational survival. A well-executed CMP:
Reduce confusion during emergencies by offering a clear course of action.
Protects brand reputation through timely and accurate communication.
Minimises operational downtime, allowing critical functions to continue or resume quickly.
Inspires stakeholder confidence, showing investors, customers, and employees that you’re prepared.
Improves legal compliance and reduces the risk of penalties or litigation.
Strengthens resilience—not just to survive but to emerge stronger after a crisis.
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.
