How can you update your crisis management training program?

Most organizations follow ISMS (ISO 27001) or BCP (Business Continuity Plan). If you have implemented ISMS, chances are that your RART (Risk Assessment and Risk Treatment) workbook covers many items. You can straightaway pick several points from there. Similarly, your BCP/DR plan will have a run book. You can strengthen the run book. You can purchase online templates if you don't have both of these in your organization. The scenarios mentioned in the templates for your business domain cover a majority of scenarios. You need to pick contractual, regulatory, legal, and statutory obligations from your company sec. The above should cover over 90%. For a steering committee, brainstorm and refine the rest.

Crisis management is a very broad subject in the context of an organisation. Risks associated with a particular crisis are to be addressed for various types of crisis situations Crisis can be an un expected situation like an accident , sudden happening like machinery breakdown etc Crisis also can be an anticipated situation like materials shortage, funds shortage, attrition rate of skilled workforce etc In each situation, the functional area risk is to be identified and remedies to be worked out. This may require realignment , re adjustment of processes, human resources , finances etc. Constant monitoring, updation of technology, revisiting the financials with respect to market conditions, robust feedback mechanism are very essential

I’ve Done All, And Some - Online Courses will be self-paced, but unstructured means people won't do it. They won't! - Webinars are live internet screens, basically, with interactive presentations. Good for introducing stuff. - Workshops are good if hands-on, collaborative, realistic, for practical skills training, but it has to be done often to be effective. Can get expensive. - Simulations that are virtual or simulated is good depending on how often and how realistic. - Corporate Exercises if done in house get a pro to lead it; make practical and done spontaneously. - Coaching Sessions are good for a few people; can get expensive. Costs will be significant because of the facilitators' or instructors' duration, complexity, and expertise.

Start With 2 or 3 Max It is my experience if you start with too many things at once you don't know who's getting it who's not. I suggest starting with two, letting that go for a while, and seeing which methods and media(such as lectures, videos, case studies, quizzes, games, discussions, and end-of-meetings) people are the most active. The one with the least active, replace that one with a new one, and keep going until you get down to 2 to 3 methods. In my opinion, these should be used more as reminders. To me, nothing is better than (realistic) practical simulations.

Start With A Big Bang ?? I start things like this with a BIG BANG?? Coordinate with EMTs, fire, police/sheriff, state police, civil workers, trash, and volunteers, to visit the location/office. They talk on the issues, and then we introduce our program. I once pretended someone needed emergency assistance and 39 pros showed up. Allow the pros to coordinate with whoever is leading the program; sometimes be spontaneous. You ensure that they're all going to be at work that day. I always let employees know it's a meeting they can't miss or be late between certain times. You won't believe the number of people who don't take this crisis training seriously. Everybody always thinks nothing is going to happen to them. Start with a BIG BANG??

KISS (Keep It Simple For The Stupidness We Do And Don’t Want Anyone To Say Anything To Us About It, Yeah thats KISS) Quantitative focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis. For example, Surveys with rating scales. Qualitative focuses on descriptive data, insights, and opinions—for example, in-depth interviews or open-ended responses. But! You should keep it very simple: how many people attend regularly over time, who is emerging as a crisis leader, and crisis trained (trained means who can physically implement the strategies, not necessarily a leader.) There needs to be disciplinary measures for those who miss any crisis session. Don't label a crisis session as critical or important as it implies other crisis sessions are not.

Don't Focus On Updating Focus On Daily Updating a binder or a little pocket card is good but crisis training is something that should be ongoing. It should be a part of your everyday operation. We live in a different time with 8 billion people on the planet versus when we had 3 billion people. You need a crisis facilitator or instructor who will ensure people get trained under stressful conditions occasionally. The facilitator need not be concerned with how people feel, a thousand opinions, who don't feel like it, or their mood that day. I know people that couldn’t give police their work address during an emergency. So, train and train seriously.

To update a crisis management training program, assess current effectiveness, incorporate industry best practices, engage stakeholders, address specific risks, and regularly review and iterate the program for continuous improvement.