P1: Activity 4: Using contingency plans
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION:
Q1. In your own words, describe the purpose of a contingency plan (100-150 words).
The purpose of developing a business continuity plan or contingency plan is to ensure the
continuation of the business activities during and following any unexpected or extreme
situation or incident that results in disruption to your normal business operations. In other
words, its purpose is to allow an organization to return to its daily operations as quickly as
possible after an unforeseen event. The contingency plan protects resources, minimizes
customer inconvenience and identifies key staff, assigning specific responsibilities in the
context of the recovery.
Q2. A well-designed organisational plan aligned with the organization's strategic plan is a
winning formula for success. In your own words, explain why you still need a contingency plan.
(60-80 words)
You still need a contingency plan because even though no one can predict the future or how
external events and market conditions will affect its ability to continue to operate, businesses
can prepare for events beyond their control. Using a “what if” process, organizations develop
contingency plans, sometimes called business continuity plans, to identify unknown scenarios
that may affect their operations, such as earthquakes, fires, violence and other situations and
how they will respond to each scenario.
Q3. What key factors will you consider when designing your contingency plan? List six (6).
The key factors that should be considered when designing a contingency plan are the
following:
1. They should be written by someone with experience in the subject
2. Identifying your needs
3. How this needs should be met
4. Impact assessment
5. Recovery strategies
6. Iteration (used to continually improve plans)
Q4. Who is the best person to put in-charge of writing the organisations contingency plan and
why?
Contingency plans will be most effective if they are written by someone with experience in the
subject. I believe the most adequate person would be the company’s manager or someone
with a clear overview of how the company functions and how each department works.
TASK: Develop a contingency plan for the same three (3) objectives you chose in P1: Activity 3.
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION:
Q1. In your own words, describe the purpose of a contingency plan (100-150 words).
The purpose of developing a business continuity plan or contingency plan is to ensure the
continuation of the business activities during and following any unexpected or extreme
situation or incident that results in disruption to your normal business operations. In other
words, its purpose is to allow an organization to return to its daily operations as quickly as
possible after an unforeseen event. The contingency plan protects resources, minimizes
customer inconvenience and identifies key staff, assigning specific responsibilities in the
context of the recovery.
Q2. A well-designed organisational plan aligned with the organization's strategic plan is a
winning formula for success. In your own words, explain why you still need a contingency plan.
(60-80 words)
You still need a contingency plan because even though no one can predict the future or how
external events and market conditions will affect its ability to continue to operate, businesses
can prepare for events beyond their control. Using a “what if” process, organizations develop
contingency plans, sometimes called business continuity plans, to identify unknown scenarios
that may affect their operations, such as earthquakes, fires, violence and other situations and
how they will respond to each scenario.
Q3. What key factors will you consider when designing your contingency plan? List six (6).
The key factors that should be considered when designing a contingency plan are the
following:
1. They should be written by someone with experience in the subject
2. Identifying your needs
3. How this needs should be met
4. Impact assessment
5. Recovery strategies
6. Iteration (used to continually improve plans)
Q4. Who is the best person to put in-charge of writing the organisations contingency plan and
why?
Contingency plans will be most effective if they are written by someone with experience in the
subject. I believe the most adequate person would be the company’s manager or someone
with a clear overview of how the company functions and how each department works.
TASK: Develop a contingency plan for the same three (3) objectives you chose in P1: Activity 3.
