How can you combine operational planning and crisis management?

1 Assess your risks

The first step to combine operational planning and crisis management is to assess your risks. You need to identify and analyze the internal and external factors that could affect your organization or project negatively. These could include natural disasters, cyberattacks, health emergencies, legal issues, media scandals, or stakeholder conflicts. You also need to evaluate the likelihood and impact of each risk, and prioritize them according to their severity and urgency. This will help you determine which risks require immediate attention and which ones can be mitigated or prevented.

2 Develop your plans

The second step to combine operational planning and crisis management is to develop your plans. You need to create both operational plans and crisis plans that align with your vision, mission, values, and objectives. Operational plans outline the specific actions, tasks, roles, responsibilities, timelines, and budgets that you need to achieve your goals and deliver your outputs. Crisis plans outline the specific procedures, protocols, roles, responsibilities, communication channels, and resources that you need to activate, mobilize, and coordinate in case of a crisis. You also need to ensure that your plans are flexible, adaptable, and scalable to cope with changing circumstances and uncertainties.

3 Test your plans

The third step to combine operational planning and crisis management is to test your plans. You need to conduct regular simulations, drills, exercises, and audits to check the validity, feasibility, and effectiveness of your plans. You also need to collect feedback, data, and lessons learned from your tests and use them to improve your plans and identify any gaps, weaknesses, or opportunities. Testing your plans will help you assess your readiness, capability, and performance in both normal and crisis situations.

4 Train your team

The fourth step to combine operational planning and crisis management is to train your team. You need to ensure that your team members are aware of and familiar with your plans and their roles and responsibilities in both operational and crisis scenarios. You also need to provide them with the necessary skills, knowledge, tools, and support to execute your plans and deal with any challenges or issues that may arise. Training your team will help you build their confidence, competence, and collaboration in both normal and crisis situations.

5 Monitor your environment

The fifth step to combine operational planning and crisis management is to monitor your environment. You need to keep track of the internal and external factors that could affect your organization or project positively or negatively. These could include market trends, customer feedback, competitor actions, regulatory changes, technological innovations, or social media buzz. You also need to use various sources, methods, and tools to collect, analyze, and communicate relevant information and insights. Monitoring your environment will help you anticipate, detect, and respond to any opportunities or threats in both normal and crisis situations.

6 Review your outcomes

The sixth step to combine operational planning and crisis management is to review your outcomes. You need to measure and evaluate the results, impacts, and benefits of your actions, tasks, and outputs in both operational and crisis scenarios. You also need to compare your actual outcomes with your expected outcomes and identify any deviations, discrepancies, or gaps. You also need to solicit feedback, data, and lessons learned from your stakeholders and use them to improve your plans and processes. Reviewing your outcomes will help you assess your effectiveness, efficiency, and quality in both normal and crisis situations.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?