The Psychology of Quality and More

Contingency planning

• Realization: noticing that the risk occurs
• Identification: spotting the risk coming
• Avoidance: eliminating the risk
• Reduction: acting to reduce the risk
• Contingency planning: preparing for the worst

Contingency planning basically means creating a process and putting it on the shelf such that when the risk occurs, you are as prepared as possible.

Contingency actions may include:

• Ensuring that additional resources can be called on and are available. This includes internal and external people, equipment, etc.

• Preparation of communications and PR about the situation.

• Training people to handle the undesirable situation.

• Setting up identification measures so you have reasonable warning of the problem situation's imminent arrival. 

• Setting up a contingency organization with roles and responsibilities that will last for the duration of the emergency.

See also: