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aforementioned skills and by expanding adaptability, further learning and group Ben is the Chair of IGEM’s Engineering
one’s knowledge of the seven STEEPLE discussions could increase an individual’s Technician Working Group. If you’re
factors. This can be done through resilience in any future crisis. It’s for this interested in becoming an IGEM
reading about concepts new and old, reason that resilient engineering must be EngTech member, visit www.igem.org.
actively listening at cross-sector events, explored further, fostered, and practiced, uk/membership for more information or
reflection with peers or participating in ensuring the delivery of a strong and call our Membership Services team on
a group that outwardly demonstrates robust future for all. +44(0)1509 678150.
unwaveringly exceptional conduct and
technical ability. FIGURE 1 THE FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF BY KÜBLER-ROSS
Crisis management and the future of
engineering SURPRISE RECOGNITION
FEELING
The intricacies of interconnected trends OR SHOCK AT THAT THINGS ATTEMPT TO HOPELESS,
POSTPONE
are plentiful. Because of this, it should THE EVENT ARE DIFFERENT; OR DELAY LACKING
be expected that not every trend and its FRUSTRATION, ENERGY, LOW
associated threat or opportunity can be RAGE, ENVY, MOOD, POOR
spotted before impact. NOT ME! RESENTMENT WHY ME? PRODUCTIVITY
Individuals with different levels of
resilience may need to draw on the HOPE, SEES
strength of others to cope with adversity, MORAL AND COMPETENCE OPPORTUNITIES
IT CAN’T
change or challenging situations. This INVOLVE ME! AND BENEFITS,
is where membership to a professional LEARNING
engineering institution or communities
of practice is advantageous.
There remains a skills and age gap that SHOCK AND ANGER BARGAINING DEPRESSION ACCEPTANCE
DENIAL
may lead to future struggles, so a focus on
TIME

FIGURE 2. MANAGING RISK CONCEPT

MANAGING RISK
Risk management is about understanding and evaluating risk, taking the necessary action to minimise the likelihood of it
happening and reducing the impact it has if it does occur, so that the organisation can achieve its objectives. In order to do
this, you need to apply a risk management process. There are five major steps to managing risk: identify, assess, evaluate,
mitigate, monitor. (Webb, 2003)

Identify
Involve as many stakeholders no
as possible and gather Mitigate
information to support you Identify a plan to minimise/deal
in identifying as many of the with each potential risk by:
potential risks as possible. Evaluate Taking action to prevent or Has the level of risk
Is the current no reduce the risk if possible no been reduced as
level of risk Taking action to limit the far as possible and
Access acceptable? impact of the risk by having a have any changes in
circumstances been
This enables you to begin plan of action if the risk occurs. considered?
measuring the risk, by Taking action to transfer the
assessing the potential impact yes risk to a third party where
of the risk occurring and the possible (for example, by yes
likelihood of it happening. taking out insurance).

Monitor

Contingency planning can help you to deal with Set out actions to minimise Ensure that the
exceptional risk that, whilst unlikely to occur, the impact of such a organisation can continue
would have a huge impact on the organisation
if it did. An example of such an exceptional catastrophic event to operate
risk occuring could be the entire team in one For example, ensuring a For example, have robust
department being off-sick for a substantial period certain number of staff have training plans in place
with food poisoning following a team-building the experience to work across to upskill short term
meal. Contingency planning is sometimes referred
to as ‘Plan B’. A contingency plan should: departments temporary workers

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