Managing Surge Through Resource Agreements

Surge can include anything from a spike in production or attendance, to crisis management. When production exceeds capacity businesses need plans in place to ramp up rapidly. Non-profits such as food banks experienced a surge when needs exceeded available resources. In January 2012 we attended an event with five thousand participants and watched as many were turned away. Yet there was a like-minded business a mile down the road which could have co-hosted the event allowing for another three thousand attendees. In fact, there was a third entity that could have handled at least three thousand more. A business continuity plan can help a business or nonprofit manage a surge related to the economy, but it can also be used to manage unforeseen conditions. For instance many nonprofits have a large base of trained volunteers. Volunteers can be called up during times of crisis. Businesses can establish trigger points to rein in finances or provide cross training to manage labor needs until additional resources arrive. Resource management agreements allow businesses, churches and nonprofits to provide mutual aid which is only limited by imagination and codes. This may range from agreements for extra parking or improved logistics to top notch event planners. Few entities have the resources to plan for every contingency, but by appointing a liaison to participate in a work group and giving them the authority to commit resources within predetermined guidelines allows for greater flexibility and reciprocity leads to better cooperation.