Definition of Proactive Planning Organization

Use proactive planning to prepare for an emergency or crisis

Anticipating a crisis and being prepared, even if the crisis never materializes, is much better than experiencing a crisis without preparation. For this reason, proactive planning is a necessary exercise that every organization must consider.

Identification

A proactive planning organization is one that prepares for the possibility of a crisis or worst-case scenario in advance. Based on industry, location, work environment and other factors, an organization would first imagine several possible crisis scenarios and then establish a detailed contingency plan.

Function

A proactive planning organization must develop a blueprint for how it will address several crises. Depending on the company, a committee consisting of key personnel and executives develops the crisis plan. The plan may include information such as an inventory of resources, the deployment of key personnel and the strategic integration of emergency response agencies such as the fire department, police, FBI or hazardous materials professionals.

Considerations

Every organization, regardless of industry and work environment, should anticipate and plan for potential crisis scenarios. For certain businesses, this is especially necessary. Such organizations include those that work with hazardous materials and businesses that face large groups of people, such as amusement parks, transportation hubs and entertainment arenas.

References

• Bremer Public Relations: Proactive Planning
• Previstar Continual Preparedness System: Proactive Planning