Once the crisis response simulation exercise has identified gaps in crisis management planning, leaders must work to create and implement a plan to remediate these findings.
This can include creating additional processes or protocols, staffing up crisis teams with trained personnel, and developing technologies that will help manage and respond to crisis events. Gathering lessons-to-be-learned from simulation exercises is critical for improving crisis response plans over time, so it is important for organizations to continually review their crisis management strategies and make necessary updates based on those outcomes. By taking the time to proactively prepare for crisis events and regularly practice crisis response procedures, an organization can be better prepared when a real crisis event occurs.
Why Simulation Exercises Are Critical to Your Crisis Response Planning
By utilizing simulation exercises as part of crisis response planning, organizations are more likely to find any gaps in crisis management and take steps to ensure a better crisis response when the time comes. Regularly taking the time to review crisis response plans and making any updates or improvements necessary can help an organization stay ahead of potential crisis events and provide for a more effective crisis management strategy. With proper planning, organizations can be better equipped to manage and respond to crisis situations.
Before the Simulation Exercise, Create an Evaluation Criteria
Before starting a crisis response simulation exercise it is important to create an evaluation criteria that outlines the goals and objectives of the exercise. This will serve as a guide for reviewing crisis management procedures, as well as creating an understanding of your crisis response expectations. By outlining key areas such as crisis communications, incident investigation plans, crisis control strategies and more in the evaluation criteria prior to the simulation exercise, you can ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page when it comes time to review crisis management practices.
Related: The Real Cost of a Tabletop Exercise: What Goes Into Creating a Successful One
Determine Next Steps After Identifying Gaps
Once gaps in crisis planning have been identified during a simulation exercise, leaders must determine what steps need to be taken in order to remediate those findings. This may include developing new crisis response protocols, hiring crisis management personnel, or implementing new technologies. It is important to take the time to review crisis plans after the exercise and make any necessary updates in order to ensure a better crisis response in the future.
Utilize a Simple Benefit and Effort Matrix to Remediate Findings
In order to prioritize the remediation of crisis response planning gaps, organizations can utilize a simple benefit and effort matrix. This tool is used to assess the benefits of implementing specific crisis management initiatives against the amount of resources required to do so. By using this matrix, organizations can gain insight on which crisis measures should be put into place in order to maximize crisis response capabilities.
Your Crisis Coordinator Should Manage The Remediation Planning Process
Utilizing a crisis coordinator to manage the remediation process can help ensure that all crisis response gaps are addressed in a timely manner. The crisis coordinator should be responsible for creating an action plan that is tailored to the specific findings of the crisis simulation exercise and regularly monitoring progress until completion. This will help keep stakeholders on track and provide clarity on timelines and objectives, allowing organizations to more quickly respond to crisis events.
Related: Tabletop Exercises: How to Create, Deliver and Evaluate Them
Conclusion
Crisis simulations are important tools for identifying vulnerabilities in crisis management plans, as well as providing insight into how a crisis situation may unfold. By taking the time to review crisis response plans after exercises, organizations can create better strategies for managing future crises. Utilizing a crisis coordinator to manage any remediation processes can also help ensure crisis response plans are up to date and provide for a more effective crisis management strategy.
By taking the appropriate steps to review crisis response plans and make any necessary updates, organizations can be better prepared when it comes time to handle crisis events. With proper planning and preparation, organizations can be more successful in crisis management.
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Rob is a Principal at PreparedEx where he manages a team of crisis preparedness professionals and has over 20 years of experience preparing for and responding to crises. Part of his leadership role includes assisting PreparedEx clients in designing, implementing and evaluating crisis, emergency, security and business continuity management programs. During his career Rob has worked for the US State Department’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program, as a crisis management consultant in Pakistan and Afghanistan where he negotiated with the UN and Pashtun tribal warlords and he served with the United Kingdom Special Forces where he operated internationally under hazardous covert and confidential conditions. Rob was also part of a disciplined and prestigious unit The Grenadier Guards where he served Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Palaces in London. Rob was a highly trained and experienced infantryman serving in Desert Storm and commanded covert operational teams and was a sniper. Rob has keynoted disaster recovery conferences and participated in live debates on FOX News regarding complex security requirements and terrorism. Rob has a Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.