Crisis Management: How and Where Do I Start?

Before we start, if you find that there is not much difference between your understanding of crisis management and business continuity management, it is worth reading "Crisis Management and Business Continuity Management: Why Is It Often Confused?" 

If it is clear, let's discuss crisis management as your assigned roles and responsibilities.

As the content of this page may be lengthy to the experienced, do select to read the relevant topics from the "Table of Contents".

One critical step in the crisis management journey is to “speak the same lingo.” Hence, it is important that an organization establish its definition of a “crisis” and the many terms used during the implementation and management of this crisis management (CM) program. As part of the BCM Institute's overall training syllabus, the content for CM to BCM will ensure consistency and alignment with both disciplines.

What is A Crisis?

The crisis is defined as a significant business disruption that stimulates extensive news media coverage. The resulting public scrutiny will affect the organization’s normal operations and also could have a political, legal, financial and governmental impact on its business.

• When describing crisis, there are Six Key Terms Synonymous to "Disruption" You Need to Know for BCM that may be similar to the word "crisis".
• What Are the Key Terminology You Need to Know for Crisis Management (CM)?
• What Exactly is Business Continuity Management? and how crisis management fits into the holistic approach?
• What is crisis management?
• Find out what is  "BCMPedia: Business Continuity Management Wikipedia"? or Click the icon above to go straight to the crisis management glossary within BCMPedia.

If you are starting from a "blank page" and is about to start its crisis management journey.  What should be the steps that you should be undertaking. 

• What are the definition of crisis management to the organisation that I am working for? This goes back to the previous discussion.
• Do you have an existing crisis management framework and policy?
• Is there an existing set of crisis management plan?
• Is there a CM planning methodology to implement new CM plan (Crisis scenario) and to sustain the CM initiatives with my organisation?
• Do you know who should be members of your crisis management team?

The appointed person should start by gathering information from articles, case studies and analyses of recent crises affecting organizations inside and outside your industry. The key is to identify best-practice recommendations and any common pitfalls.

Read some crisis management articles on our LinkedIn Showcase (Crisis Management).

Globally, while you are at your home location, there are related courses on crisis management. If you find them useful, consider the BCM Institute's specialised crisis management courses.

The quick question is, do I have the necessary skill set and know-how to do this job? What do I "not know"?

The institute has competency-based training leading to professional certification.  You may review the following CM courses to determine their relevance to your roles and prior knowledge.

These are quick links to the respective crisis management courses on the BCM Institute's website for convenience to the reader.

Click the "Catalog" icon and search for the Crisis Management course to determine the pricing. The pricing is in Singapore dollars (SGD).

Given the COVID-19 outbreak and the return to normal in 2023, most courses are available both "50% Online and 50% onsite" or "Hybrid Learning" and 100% online or "Blended Learning."   

Note that the Hybrid Learning course is 50% online and 50% onsite.  This means Modules 1 and 2 are online, and Modules 3 and 4 (or Day 3 and Day 4) are onsite.

For those with experience and who are seeking to progress in their careers, it is timely that you review and develop your learning road map, which will accelerate your knowledge, skill set, and, most importantly, your career.

Here are some of the related courses to be considered.  Take stock by reviewing "What is My BCM Competency Level?" (click the right icon).  You need to know where you are "Know-Do-Manage" and where you aspire to reach or are required by the current CM role.

Crisis management Certification provides you with the necessary verification that you know and also the necessary experience to implement or manage the crisis management program.

The three levels of certification are shown below. 

The types of crisis management certification include Crisis Management Certified Planner (CMCP), Crisis Management Certified Specialist (CMCS) and Crisis Management Certified Expert (CMCE).

To learn more about the requirements for attaining your crisis management certification, click the icon above, "How to Obtain Your Crisis Management Certification."

BCM Institute has published a specialized CM book, "A Manager’s Guide to Implementing Your Crisis Management Plan." You can get a copy from the BCM Institute's store.

Do note that Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents (PR) can opt to attend BCM Institute's competency-based training and seek government funding when attending crisis management courses in Singapore. BCM Institute is an Authorized Training Centre (ATO), and the crisis management training program is developed in collaboration with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).

If you have any questions, please click "Email" to write to us