Presilience and Resilience: Bridging the Gaps for a Safe and Secure Future. What Organisations Need to Know.
Yazid Bin Ismail
Doctorate Researcher on Complex Adaptive Systems and Systems Thinking in Emergency Management. Aerodromes I Vertical Flight Infrastructures
Understanding Presilience and Resilience
In today’s VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) world, organisations must think ahead to stay secure and stable. This is where the concepts of presilience and resilience come into play.
Presilience is all about being proactive. It’s like seeing the storm clouds on the horizon and taking steps to safeguard everything before the rain hits. This means conducting thorough risk assessments, setting up early warning systems, and planning preventive measures. The goal is simple: to minimize the chances of anything going wrong in the first place. When organisations think about presilience, they are essentially building a safety net that catches problems before they occur.
On the other hand, resilience is about bouncing back when things do go wrong. It’s the ability to recover quickly and adapt to new conditions, ensuring operations continue smoothly despite setbacks. Resilience strategies focus on crisis management, business continuity/recovery planning, and maintaining robust support systems. The aim is to ensure that when a disruption occurs, the organisation can swiftly get back on its feet and continue moving forward.
Identifying the Gaps
Despite the clear benefits of both approaches, many organisations struggle to bridge significant gaps between presilience and resilience.
One major gap is in mindset. Organisations often favour reactive resilience strategies over proactive presilience measures. This means they are more focused on responding to crises after they happen rather than preventing them in the first place. While resilience is important, relying solely on reactive measures can lead to higher costs and greater disruptions when unexpected events occur.
Resource allocation also presents a significant gap. Investing in presilience measures might seem unnecessary, especially when budgets are tight. However, this under-investment can leave organisations unprepared and vulnerable, increasing the risk of severe disruptions. It’s essential to allocate sufficient resources to both preventive and reactive strategies to maintain balance.
Another key gap is the integration of presilience and resilience strategies. Often, these approaches are not seamlessly woven into a single, cohesive risk management framework. This lack of integration can result in disjointed efforts and less effective responses to crises. To be truly effective, organisations must ensure that their strategies for anticipating risks and bouncing back from them harmoniously.
Training and awareness are also critical areas where gaps exist. Employees must be well-versed in presilience practices to effectively identify and mitigate risks. Without adequate training, the workforce may lack the necessary skills and knowledge to implement proactive measures, exposing the organisation to potential threats.
Lastly, the utilisation of advanced technology and data analytics is often limited in presilience efforts. Technologies like AI, IoT, and big data analytics can significantly enhance predictive risk assessments and early interventions. However, many organisations do not fully leverage these tools, which can diminish the effectiveness of their presilience measures and lead to missed opportunities for timely action.
Addressing the Gaps
Bridging the gaps between presilience and resilience requires a strategic and balanced approach. Organisations must develop a comprehensive risk management strategy emphasising proactive and reactive measures. This balanced approach will help organizations prepare for potential risks and respond effectively when crises occur.
Investing in presilience is crucial for long-term sustainability. Organisations should advocate for increased funding and resources dedicated to preventive measures, highlighting the long-term cost savings and benefits. By demonstrating the value of proactive strategies, they can make a compelling case for prioritising presilience initiatives.
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Creating an integrated risk management framework is essential for seamless coordination and communication between departments. A unified approach ensures that presilience and resilience strategies complement each other, leading to more effective and efficient responses to crises. This integration facilitates better planning and execution of both preventive and reactive measures.
Employee training and engagement are vital components of a successful risk management strategy. Implementing comprehensive training programs on presilience practices equips employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to identify and mitigate risks proactively. Fostering a culture of proactive risk management and encouraging employee participation further enhances the organisation’s ability to prevent and respond to potential threats.
Leveraging advanced technology and data analytics is key to enhancing presilience efforts. Organisations should invest in AI, IoT, and big data analytics to improve predictive risk assessments and early warning systems. By utilising these technologies, organisations can continuously monitor for potential risks and take timely actions to prevent disruptions, thereby strengthening their overall resilience.
Conclusion
Addressing the gaps between presilience and resilience requires a strategic shift in mindset, resource allocation, and planning. By adopting a balanced approach, investing in preventive measures, integrating strategies, enhancing training, and leveraging technology, organisations can better prepare for and respond to future challenges. This comprehensive approach ensures continuity and success in the face of adversity, enabling organizations to thrive in an increasingly uncertain world.
References
Presilience, Resilience & the Psychology of Risk https://www.theisrm.org/en/presilience-resilience-the-psychology-of-risk
Presilience as a Unifying Practice to Change, Thrive and Grow
Why a Presilience mindset is crucial for thriving in the new normal