Lesson Plan

• Describe the definitions of contingency planning and crisis management.
• Explain why contingency planning is essential for business continuity and stakeholder confidence.
• Identify the key components of a contingency plan and the stages of the crisis management process.
• Apply a simple risk‑identification and response‑strategy exercise to a case scenario.
• Evaluate how testing and review improve plan effectiveness.

• Projector or interactive whiteboard
• Slide deck summarising key concepts
• Handout of contingency‑plan template
• Sample risk‑register worksheet
• Case‑study packets (e.g., data‑breach scenario)
• Markers and flip chart

Begin with a brief news clip about a recent corporate crisis that disrupted operations. Ask students what immediate actions they think the company should have taken, linking to prior knowledge of risk management. Explain that by the end of the lesson they will be able to define contingency planning and crisis management, list their key elements, and apply them in a simple scenario.

1. Do‑now (5’) – Students read a short news article on a crisis and jot down immediate actions they observed.
2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Present definitions and importance using slides; discuss the five reasons for contingency planning.
3. Interactive component (15’) – In pairs, students complete the risk‑identification section of the template for a given case.
4. Group activity (10’) – Pairs share identified risks; class builds a full contingency‑plan outline on the board, covering response strategies and communication protocols.
5. Crisis‑management simulation (15’) – Role‑play the six‑stage crisis response with quick decision‑making prompts.
6. Check for understanding (5’) – Quick quiz (Kahoot/handout) on key terms and steps.
7. Reflection & exit ticket (5’) – Students write one way their organisation could improve its plan.

Summarise how contingency planning provides the proactive framework that underpins effective crisis management. Collect exit tickets where each student states one improvement for a plan. For homework, assign reading of the company’s Business Continuity Manual and completion of the full contingency‑plan template for a risk of their choice.