Every organization is striving for more efficiency in how they operate. One of the major issues big and small businesses overlook is dealing with emergencies. Problems can occur in a myriad of ways, from natural disasters to data breaches. Having a contingency or backup plan is going to guarantee your organization keeps going in the face of adversity. Therefore, creating a contingency plan is essential, but what are the best ways to create a great and grounded contingency plan?
List the Risks…
In order to problem solve effectively, we’ve got to understand problems. The risks are numerous in business, and rather than putting your head in the sand, understanding what each risk is shall help you to get a far better insight into how you can protect your business in the long run. Listing the risks, from data breaches to internal fraud, can help you paint a better picture of what could go wrong and, therefore, how you can solve these problems. You need to consider if there’s anything particular about a new process or product that would introduce new risks or exacerbate existing ones.
… and the Likelihood of Them Occurring
The level of severity is just as important as understanding what the risks are to the organization. Once you’ve identified each risk, you can understand what really is cause for concern, but also if the solutions are easily implementable. Something like equipment malfunctioning is a common occurrence, especially in warehouses, and if it is likely to occur, solutions need to be put in place as a priority. If there is something wrong with equipment like the jack, having parts for a BT pallet jack in storage is going to make everything more efficient.
Understanding the Timescales
When it comes to implementing a plan that can ensure your business is thriving when there are problems, understanding how long it takes to implement the plan is vital. There is going to be some delay, especially when it comes to a seismic event like a data breach. There will be the initial shock but after that comes the damage limitation while also making sure that you are concurrently bringing in the new plan. When it comes to something like a data breach, time is of the essence. When you are creating a contingency plan, you need to understand how long it would realistically take to be set in place so you don’t disrupt business dealings, while also ensuring your company stays protected.
Communicating the Plan Properly
Finally, what makes a contingency plan effective is how it is understood. Employees need to understand the bare bones of a plan to make sure that they are doing their part to keep the business afloat. Communicating the plans in the right way depends on the nature of the event. If there is a data breach, it is not a good idea to communicate via email, unless you are sure the emails are encrypted. Communication is something that will make sure everybody understands their part in bringing the business back up to speed.
