The best time to resolve the issue of roles and responsibilities is when creating an emergency plan — before an event occurs. The solution is to develop a chain of command that top executives endorse.
Another common issue during the planning phase concerns duplication of efforts. Everybody is in recovery mode, but in their zeal to restore normalcy, departments often duplicate efforts. The results include wasted resources.
Managers also can prevent this problem during the planning process. Managers have long tapped into the benefits of cross-functional training, and emergencies are excellent times to put this training into action. For example, an HVAC technician might need to board up windows, remove rubbish or perform other activities unrelated to HVAC systems.
Emergency Planning: Conduct a Business Impact Analysis
Emergency Planning: Define Roles and Responsibilities
Emergency Planning: Develop Materials and Equipment Inventory
