Syllabus: OCR - A and AS Level Business
Module: Business Objectives and Strategy
Lesson: Contingency Planning and Crisis Management

Introduction

Contingency planning and crisis management form a critical part of the OCR A Level Business specification, falling under the “Business objectives and strategy” topic. This section helps students understand how businesses anticipate, prepare for, and respond to unexpected events, ensuring resilience and continuity.

For teachers, this topic offers strong real-world hooks and natural links to enterprise skills like risk management, strategic thinking, and communication under pressure. It also aligns with OCR’s emphasis on applied knowledge, giving students opportunities to engage with realistic business scenarios.

Key Concepts

OCR students are expected to understand the following:

• Contingency Planning:
  Preparing in advance for potential future disruptions (e.g., IT failure, supplier issues, fire, or pandemic) to ensure business continuity.

• Crisis Management:
  The reactive process a business follows in response to an unplanned event that poses a threat to operations, reputation, or finances.

• The difference between contingency and crisis:
  Contingency is proactive, crisis is reactive — both require decision-making under uncertainty.

• Importance of planning:
  Effective contingency planning can reduce the damage caused by crises, preserve stakeholder confidence, and support recovery.

• Risks and limitations:
  Contingency planning can be costly and time-consuming. Not all risks are foreseeable, and plans may not work as expected.

This content sits under “3.6 Business objectives and strategy” in the OCR A Level Business specification and builds directly on previous learning about operational strategy and decision-making processes.

Real-World Relevance

Contingency and crisis management are anything but abstract. Several recent events provide excellent case studies:

• COVID-19 Pandemic:
  Many businesses lacked robust contingency plans. Supermarkets quickly adjusted supply chains, while hospitality firms struggled without revenue.

• KFC’s 2018 Supply Chain Crisis:
  A change in delivery partners caused hundreds of stores to close due to a lack of chicken. KFC’s humorous crisis response via public apology helped protect its brand.

• Cyber Attacks (e.g., NHS 2017 WannaCry):
  Highlight the importance of IT backups, security protocols, and communication during disruption.

Using these examples helps students understand how theoretical planning translates into practical, high-stakes decisions.

How It’s Assessed

OCR assessment focuses on application and evaluation. You’ll see:

• Extended response questions asking students to assess the value of contingency planning in a specific context.

• Case study data where students analyse a crisis scenario and recommend actions.

• Command words such as:

  • Explain – demonstrate understanding with examples

  • Analyse – logical chains of reasoning (e.g., cause and effect of poor planning)

  • Evaluate – weigh advantages and limitations to reach a supported judgement.

Mark schemes reward developed arguments, contextual application, and clear structure. Encouraging students to use real-world examples is a smart strategy for top-band answers.

Enterprise Skills Integration

Contingency planning and crisis management are a natural fit for skills that matter beyond the exam:

• Decision-Making:
  Prioritising under pressure, managing trade-offs.

• Problem-Solving:
  Identifying the root cause and proposing workable solutions.

• Communication:
  Crisis responses must be clear, timely, and credible — a vital skill for future leaders.

Enterprise Skills’ Business Simulations can bring this topic to life. Students take on roles in a virtual company, facing operational disruptions and forced to adapt quickly. These sessions are built for real classrooms, align to this unit, and reinforce the link between strategic theory and real-world application.

Careers Links

This topic supports Gatsby Benchmarks 4, 5 and 6 by developing core business competencies:

• Career paths linked to this unit:

  • Risk Analyst

  • Business Continuity Manager

  • Corporate Communications Officer

  • Operations Manager

  • Health and Safety Advisor

It also builds awareness of how different departments (HR, IT, Finance, Operations) collaborate under pressure, giving students a clearer picture of how businesses really work.

You can strengthen links to careers by inviting guest speakers or running simulation-based experiences that mimic workplace pressures.

Teaching Notes

Save time, increase impact:

• Use current news stories to spark debate or roleplay crisis scenarios.

• Apply a “What would you do?” frame: students take the role of a senior manager facing a threat.

• Try a two-phase activity: students write a contingency plan, then respond to a simulated disruption.

• Use Enterprise Skills’ plug-and-play simulations to let students practise under pressure — they’re purpose-built for OCR content and reduce planning time.

Common pitfalls:

• Confusing contingency planning with business continuity planning (students often miss the nuance).

• Writing vague or generic responses without applying to the case material.

• Overlooking the cost-benefit trade-off when evaluating planning strategies.

Stretch tasks:

• Compare contingency responses across industries (e.g. tech vs retail).

• Analyse a crisis where the plan failed — and explore why.