During times of uncertainty and upheaval, contingency planning and crisis management are more important than ever.
Use this scenario planning tool to develop a strategic response to risks facing your organization.
What is Scenario Planning?
Scenario planning is a strategic process for managing unknowns so you can prepare for possibilities and ensure strong crisis management.
If you find yourself losing sleep over “what if” questions, it’s probably time for scenario planning. Our template breaks the scenario-planning process down into five main steps.
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Step 1. Name the big unknown.
Focus on the known risks and most likely challenges.
Step 2. Identify scenarios.
The good, the bad, and the in between.
Step 3. Think through impacts.
Consider impacts on your programming, your financial picture, and your staff, community, and stakeholders.
Step 4. Brainstorm your strategy.
Ground in your core values, consider your approach, and identify possible action steps.
Step 5. Name your decision and activation points.
Get clear on the indicators that will help you spot when a risk has become a reality. Name key decision points, so you know when to activate your contingency plan.
Use the Contingency Planning and Crisis Management Tool
If you’d like additional guidance and examples, check out Managing Uncertainty: A Guide to Scenario Planning.
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