A contingency plan proposes alternative procedures.
To determine the etymological origin of the two main words that give shape to the term contingency plan , we have to go to Latin. Thus, in this language we find the fact that plan comes from the word planus, which can be translated as "plane."
Meanwhile, contingency emanates from the concept contingentia which is the result of the union of three parts: the prefix with – which is equivalent to “ meeting ”, the verb tangere which is synonymous with “to touch” and finally the suffix – encia which can be determined to be its meaning is equal to "quality."
What is a contingency plan
A contingency plan is a type of preventive, predictive and reactive plan . It presents a strategic and operational structure that will help control an emergency situation and minimize its negative consequences.
The contingency plan proposes a series of alternative procedures to the normal functioning of an organization , when any of its usual functions are affected by an internal or external contingency.
This type of plan, therefore, attempts to guarantee the continuity of the organization's operation in the face of any eventuality, whether material or personal. A contingency plan includes four basic stages: evaluation, planning, feasibility testing and execution.
A contingency plan seeks to guarantee the functioning of an institution or entity in the event of an emergency situation.
The importance of forecasting
Specialists recommend planning when it is not yet necessary; that is, before accidents happen. On the other hand, a contingency plan must be dynamic and must allow the inclusion of alternatives to new incidents that could occur over time. Therefore, it must be updated and reviewed periodically.
A contingency plan also has to establish certain strategic objectives and an action plan to meet these goals.
Components of a contingency plan
Specifically, we can establish that every contingency plan must in turn be made up of three other plans that will establish the measures to be carried out, the threats that are faced and the time for establishing them.
Firstly, there is the backup plan, which is the one that is responsible for determining what the prevention measures are, that is, those that have to be carried out with the clear objective of preventing the materialization of a situation. specific threat.
Secondly, it also integrates into the contingency project what is the emergency plan which, as its name indicates, is made up of the set of actions that must be carried out during the materialization of the threat and also after it. . And thanks to those, it will be possible to reduce and put an end to the negative effects of that.
And thirdly, there is the recovery plan that is carried out after the threat with the clear objective of recovering the state in which things were before the threat became real.
DRP in IT
In computing , a contingency plan is an alternative program so that a company can recover from a computer disaster and restore its operations quickly. These plans are also known by the acronym DRP , for Disaster Recovery Plan .
A DRP program includes a backup plan (which is implemented before the threat), an emergency plan (which is implemented during the threat), and a recovery plan (with measures to be implemented once the threat has been controlled). .