[CM] Crisis Management vs Operational Resilience: A Comparative Overview

Crisis Management vs. Operational Resilience: A Comparative Overview

In the complex landscape of organisational management, two critical concepts, crisis management and operational resilience, play pivotal roles in ensuring an organisation's ability to withstand and recover from disruptions.

While interconnected, they differ in focus, scope, and application.

Crisis Management	Operational Resilience
Definition
is a structured approach aimed at identifying, preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from events that pose a significant threat to an organisation's people, operations, reputation, or assets.	is the ability of an organisation to continue its critical operations and adapt to changes, disruptions, or crises while maintaining essential functions and protecting its people, reputation, and value.
Focus
Concentrates on addressing and mitigating the impact of sudden and often unforeseen events or crises. These include natural disasters, cyber-attacks, public relations crises, and other disruptive incidents.	It encompasses a broader perspective, including responding to crises and proactively building capabilities to ensure ongoing operational effectiveness despite disruptions.
Timeframe
Involves short-term actions and responses to manage and contain the immediate effects of a crisis.	It has a more strategic and long-term focus, considering immediate response measures and long-term strategies to enhance an organisation's ability to endure and adapt.
Objective
It aims to minimise damage, protect stakeholders, and rapidly recover to normal operations after a crisis.	It aims to ensure that an organisation can sustain its critical functions, adapt to changing circumstances, and thrive in the face of challenges, whether crises or ongoing disruptions.

Comparison

Crisis Management	Operational Resilience
Scope
tends to be reactive, responding to specific incidents or crises as they arise.	has a more proactive and comprehensive scope, focusing on building capabilities to withstand a wide range of sudden or gradual disruptions.
Time Horizon
is often associated with short-term, immediate responses to mitigate the impact of an event.	looks beyond the immediate response, addressing short-term and long-term strategies for sustained adaptability and effectiveness.
Approach
is event-driven, with a focus on containment, recovery, and restoration.	is a strategic and holistic approach that involves continuous improvement, risk identification, and building capabilities to enhance overall organizational resilience.
Components and Tools
While there is overlap in some components, such as business continuity planning, crisis management tools may focus more on immediate response and communication	Operational resilience tools encompass a broader array, including risk assessment tools, technology resilience measures, and strategies for maintaining critical operations.

Summing Up ...

In summary, crisis management and operational resilience are complementary but distinct concepts.

While crisis management addresses the immediate response to disruptive events, operational resilience takes a broader and more proactive approach, aiming to fortify an organization's ability to adapt, endure, and thrive in an ever-evolving environment.

Both are essential for building a robust and resilient organizational framework.

Goh, M. H. (2016). A Manager’s Guide to Implement Your Crisis Management Plan. Business Continuity Management Specialist Series (1st ed., p. 192). Singapore: GMH Pte Ltd.

More Information About Crisis Management Blended/ Hybrid Learning Courses

To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the CM-300 Crisis Management Implementer [CM-3] and the CM-5000 Crisis Management Expert Implementer [CM-5].