According to me if I am right as business professional, contingency business plan is very important for

the original plan gone off track. If I say in simple words, it helps in getting back your business on track.

If I say about contingency plan vs risk management plan, then they are both supports to each other. Like,
the contingency plan cover risks in the business plan.

If I say about contingency plan vs crisis management, then I must say that the contingency plan is pre-
planned risk management.

In the contingency plan, I must include;

 Strategies to ensure minimal operational disruption during crises, such as unexpected

market shifts, regulatory compliance changes, or severe staff shortages.
 Partnerships with external agencies that can provide support in scenarios like
environmental hazards or public health emergencies.
 A comprehensive communication strategy with internal and external stakeholders to
provide clear, timely information flow during crises like brand reputation threats or legal
challenges.

If I am not wrong, the word “environmental contingency plan”, is vitally used where natural disasters
occurred or may occur. Such type of plan is used by the government department & businesses
demographically.

Here I always include: -

 The names and information of the people designated to handle certain tasks in advance to
ensure the emergency response is quick and concise
 Ways to educate the public on how to respond when an earthquake hit
 A timeline for emergency responders.

Likewise, in the technology contingency plan, where high-level data security is concerned, this plan is
used by the organization privately and by the government. It includes hacking threats, servers damage by
the power fluctuations etc.

Here I always follow: -

 The steps to take and key team members to notify in order to get data adequately secured
once more.
 To record the names and information of stakeholders to contact to discuss the impact of
the data breach and the plan to protect their investment.
  A timeline to document what is being done to address the breach and what will need to be
done to prevent data breaches in the future.

To create contingency plan, I always: -

 Make a list of risks: -

 Weigh risks based on severity & likelihood: -
 Identify important risks: -
 Conduct a business impact analysis: -
 Create contingency plans for the biggest risks: -
 Get approval for the contingency plans: -
 Share the contingency plans: -
 Monitory contingency plans: -
 If necessary, create new contingency plans: -

Here is what I always avoid creating contingency plan which includes: -

 Lack of buy-in: -
 Bias against “plan-b” thinking: -
 One & done contingency plans: -

My simple words to avoid contingency plan are: -

 I always check to reinforce the benefits of a contingency plan.

 Make multiple plans for every scenario to find a professional solution when I am prepared for a
problem.
 Revisit the contingency plan to ensure new risks accounted for.