Do your contingency plans include comprehensive contact information, communication procedures, scenario handling processes, and clear criteria for prioritization, escalation, and elevation?

Effective contingency plans must include detailed contact information for all key personnel, specific communication channels and procedures, documented processes for handling common scenarios, and clear criteria for when to prioritize, escalate or elevate issues. Without these elements, organizations risk delayed responses, miscommunication, and inconsistent handling of incidents during critical situations. Evidence of fulfillment could include a documented contingency plan template or actual plan that contains sections for: contact directories with roles and alternates, communication protocols with channels and escalation paths, scenario-based response procedures, and a decision matrix for prioritization and escalation criteria.