Whether you’re considering a role within the crisis management sphere, or you’re simply curious as to how organisations strategise and plan for crises, read on for all you need to know about this rewarding and fast-paced industry. 

What is crisis management? 

Crisis management is the process of effectively handling the impact of unexpected events which can pose a threat to an organisation’s reputation and activities. Crises can come in any form, but some examples include major incidents, for example, most likely to affect operations, like power failures, cyber or terrorist attacks, natural disasters, criminal offenses, serious injuries or deaths.

Good management of risk involves strategic planning and communication strategies to successfully mitigate any damages and restore normality quickly. You can find some examples of crisis management from famous brands here. 

Crisis management strategies and planning 

In order to lead any organisation to success when it comes to crisis management, prior planning, communication and strategising are key tactics to building resilience and overcoming the crisis. Read on to discover how this works in practice. 

Conducting risk assessments to identify potential crises 

By conducting thorough risk assessments as part of risk management, organisations are able to anticipate and effectively address potential threats, before they are able to escalate into crises. Crisis managers will typically systematically evaluate all aspects of the organisation, including the likes of infrastructure, protocol, procedures and day-to-day operations, as well as external factors, to spot any potential risks.  
 
In the best-case scenarios, this prior insight gives teams time to nip any risks in the bud, before they escalate to crises, but most often allows organisations to allocate resources and implement measures to mitigate the impact of an up-and-coming crisis. 
 
This preemptive crisis management creates a robust and resilient business, and in turn maintains a healthy projection of the brand, customer loyalty and stakeholder confidence.

Developing effective communication plans during a crisis 

Effective communication during a crisis, both internally and externally, is key to successfully managing it. Establishing clear channels of communication and broadcasting accurate information as quickly and transparently is of utmost importance. The communications circulated must be honest, empathetic and consistent at all times, in order to maintain trust amongst employees, stakeholders and external parties. 
 
In practice, effective communication during a crisis would involve promptly acknowledging the issue which has occurred, providing transparent updates and showing empathy towards affected customers or key players.

Building organisational resilience to withstand and recover from crises 

Crisis management teams work to implement systems and procedures which are able to anticipate, withstand and recover from crises. This involves proactive risk management across all areas of the business, from supply chains externally, to regular drills and scenario preparation internally.  
 
For instance, a crisis management team might establish communication protocols to quickly and efficiently circulate information during a crisis, so that all involved feel well-informed and empowered to take decisive actions aligned with the organisation's best interests. 

How an MSc Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management can help you manage organisational risk and crises

To succeed in this competitive, fast-paced and extremely rewarding industry, you need to be analytical, strategic, adaptable, decisive and a good communicator. To develop these skills and learn more about what the role involves, you could consider a crisis management course.  
 
Accredited by The Institute of Risk Management (IRM), our online MSc Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management is designed to equip you with an in-depth understanding of what counts as risk, how to build a robust risk-management culture and how to help organisations handle crises. Additionally, you’ll also learn how to leverage risk in a way that benefits organisation – because in uncertainty lies opportunity. 

Our course is part-time, and fully online, meaning you can learn at your own pace and work around your other commitments: