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 start the discussion on 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 of the critical step for 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 that is used during the implementation and management of this crisis management (CM) program.  As part of BCM Institute's overall training syllabus, the content for CM to BCM will ensure consistency and alignment to both discipline.

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 here 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 analyzes of recent crises affecting organizations both inside and outside of your industry. The key is to identify best-practice recommendations and any common pitfalls.

Read some of the crisis management articles that is available of our LinkedIn Showcase (Crisis Management).

Globally while you are at your home location, there are related courses specific to crisis management.  If you find it useful, you may want to take a look at the BCM Institute's series of specialized 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 both competency based and those leading to professional certification.  The question you often asked "Is This Crisis Management Course You Are Looking For?"

If you are starting level CM journey and either cannot commit the time resource or the budgetary approval, the first installment of your CM journey starts with the attendance of the intermediate CM course [Code code: CM-300], it start with you "Learning To Implement Your Crisis Management Plan?".

If you would like to go straight to the advanced level CM course [Code code: CM-5000], proceed to read "Attend The Most Comprehensive Crisis Management Expert Level Course".

Meanwhile, if you have already completed our intermediate course [Code code: CM-300], you will be asking "Am I Ready to Attend the CM-400: Crisis Management Manager Course? [Code code: CM-400]

For convenient to the reader, this are quick links to the respective crisis management courses found in the BCM Institute's website.  The pricing is in Singapore dollar (SGD).

• CM-300: Crisis Management Implementer [Course Description] [Pricing] [FAQ]

• CM-400: Crisis Management Manager [Course Description] [Pricing] [FAQ]

• CM-5000: Crisis Management Expert Implementer [Course Description] [Pricing] [FAQ]

Note: For latest course schedule, go to the respective [Course Description] and click [Course Schedule]

In view of the COVID-19 outbreak, most courses will be changed from "onsite" or "brick-and-mortar" to "Blended Learning." 

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

Here are some of the related courses to be considered.  Take stock by reviewing "What is My BCM Competency Level?".  It is essential for you to know where you are "Know-Do-Manage"and where you aspire to reach or is required by the current CM role.

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

The three levels of certification is as show below.  The types of crisis management certification includes: Crisis Management Certified Planner (CMCP), Crisis Management Certified Specialist (CMCS) and Crisis Management Certified Expert (CMCE).

To elaborate on the requirement to attain your crisis management certification, you can find more information at "How to Obtain Your Crisis Management Certification?"

BCM institute has published a specialized CM book called "A Manager’s Guide to Implementing Your Crisis Management Plan."  You may want to get a  copy of this book from the BCM Institute's store.

Other Useful References

A list of the other references can be found in "What Are BCM References That Is Useful?"

Do take note that Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents (PR) can opt to attend BCM Institute's competency based training can seek funding from the government when attending the 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).

It is good to know the differences between BCM Institute's certification courses versus the competency based training by reading  "What is Certification and Competency-based Courses?"

What are the specific courses offered as part of competency-based crisis management:

• CM-360 Implementing Crisis Management Plan
• CM-460 Managing and Executing Crisis Management Plan

You can view this "Comparison Between BCM Intermediate Level Competency and Certification Courses" as an example.

If you have any questions, please feel free to write to us @ info@bcm-institute.org