Plans are common. Readiness is rare.

Most organisations say they have a crisis plan.
But when pressure hits, that plan often stays in the drawer.

The real job of a crisis plan

A good crisis plan isn’t about predicting every possible scenario.
It’s about one thing: enabling your people to act when it matters.
That means clear roles. Defined responsibilities. Agreed ways of working.
Because when crisis strikes, confusion spreads fast. And structure is what stops chaos.
A well-designed plan also helps teams remember critical actions they’re not used to doing:

  • Who needs to be informed – and by whom?
  • Who builds the situation report?
  • Who appoints a backup if the crisis drags on?

These aren’t difficult questions. But in the heat of a crisis, when stress is high and time is short, they become essential.

Why “just winging it” breaks down

In small teams that know each other well, improvisation sometimes works.
But in larger organisations, coordination matters more than instinct.
And when key people are on leave – or no longer around – a shared, documented approach becomes the backbone of your response.

But we have a plan – so we’re ready?

Unfortunately, not quite.
Most crisis plans miss one of two things:

  • Core building blocks – the essential steps defined in Level 1 and 2 of The Crisis Framework by Murphy
  • Practised habits – the confidence and clarity that only come through training and rehearsal

In many organisations, these basics are either missing – or they’re written down but never internalised.
People haven’t read their role cards. They’re unsure how to activate the crisis team. They rely on memory instead of method.
And when the moment comes, the plan stays unused – right when it’s needed most.

What it takes to make planning create real capability 

So what does an effective plan look like? 

It’s not about writing more pages. It’s about ensuring the plan supports people, decisions and coordination – in the moment that it is most needed. 

At Murphy, we define plan maturity across four levels: 

Level 1: Foundation 

Your baseline must include: 

  • Shared definitions of what constitutes a crisis 
  • Clear escalation thresholds and routines 
  • Role allocation: who leads, who supports, who decides 
  • A basic meeting structure and information flow 

This is where most organisations need to start.  

Level 2: Support 

The plan must help people do their job by including: 

  • Role cards and checklists for each key function 
  • User-friendly content – not legalistic language 
  • Visual templates for decision-making and reporting 
  • Clarity on priorities and objectives 

Here, we move from having a plan to being able to use it. 

Level 3: Strategy 

The plan must go beyond reactive steps: 

  • It becomes part of how the organisation builds resilience 
  • It supports capability development over time 
  • It provides a framework for how teams prepare, train and evolve 
  • It links to business continuity, security and leadership strategy 

Planning here drives progression – not just compliance. 

Level 4: Integration 

At the highest level, planning is part of business governance: 

  • Plans are updated as the business changes 
  • Crisis management is embedded in strategy, reporting and leadership 
  • Planning is linked to organisational culture, values and mission 
  • The organisation uses crisis as a platform for learning and growth 

Here, planning supports not only survival – but transformation. 

Start with where you are, not where you hope to be 

We rush ahead to build complex plans and structures, but skip the foundations. 
We assume knowledge. We assume clarity. We assume cohesion. 
That’s why our recommendation is simple: 

👉 Start by assessing where you are today. 

Using The Crisis Framework by Murphy, you can: 

  • Benchmark your current maturity across key areas – including your plan 
  • Identify low-effort improvements that raise readiness fast 
  • Distinguish what requires development from what only requires maintenance 
  • Build structured progression across people, plans, tools and leadership 

Planning is not a one-off project. It’s a cycle. And it needs ownership, clarity and time. 

📄 Want a sample report of The Crisis Framework as a printable PDF?

Fill in your email and we will send you a sample report from The Crisis Framework by Murphy (TCF).

📊 Need help assessing your plan structure or running a capability review? 

Take the opportunity to get a free level 1 assessment with The Crisis Framework by Murphy for your organisation. Fill out the form below and we will get in touch and book your free assessment.