Everything below is sourced from the best available sources or has been found to work in previous cases of potential global pandemics but I’m not a doctor nor an infectious disease specialist so this isn’t medical advice.
Always check and follow the advice given by your health authorities.
A simple guide for steps to take in your organization
New – Operating under COVID-19 constraints webinar
I think we are using the wrong language in our discussions of COVID-19 when we talk about opening / closing businesses and this sets up a false dichotomy. Trying to make a binary open / closed decision in light of COVID-19 is difficult when there are so many factors at play. This is a particular challenge as some constraints are going to be necessary until we find a cure, which seems to be 12 – 18 months away.
Therefore, I don’t believe that returning to business as it was in late 2019 (“re-opening”) is an option. Instead, we need to look at new models for organizations until constraints can be lifted.
So, rather than thinking about open / closed, a better framing is to consider what operating under constraints until mid-2021 looks like. I’ve pulled some concepts into a framework to help decision-makers asses how to operate their business in light of local and global constraints.
The intent is to help you build a model for what operating today looks like. That allows you to continue with some form of business while constraints are in place but recognizes that re-opening as before isn’t an option for most. The framework can be re-applied as conditions and limitations change to preserve a balance between safety and serving your customers.
I’m hoping that by the end of the session, I’ve been able to stress-test my framework, and you’ve got something that you can apply to your organization.
Watch a replay of the webinar.
Get the slides here
Contingency planning resources
A crisis management plan (CMP) is going to be your top-level document for managing anything of this scale: it’s the OS for your response. Here’s a guide for how to build one.
Here are ten quick tips for effective crisis management.
Want to see how your existing plan measures up to the BS11200 crisis management standard? Use this simple diagnostic tool here. (Redirects to the dcdr.io site.)
Two interviews worth listening to:
Avoid these common problems to make sure your plan is actionable. (Includes a link to the plan health-check worksheet.)