Access to new resource related to Crisis Project Management added to PMWL
Resource provided by Ishitha Doniparthi
4 May 2026 – Mumbai, India – Access to a new resource has been added to the PM World Library (PMWL) related to crisis management in project management. The new resource is titled “Planning for Crises in Project Management,” a paper by Larry A. Mallak, Harold A. Kurstedt Jr., and Gerold A. Patzak, published in the Project Management Journal in 1997.
The article examines the inevitability of crises in projects and emphasizes the importance of proactive planning to mitigate their impact. It highlights that crises whether internal or external can disrupt project activities and require rapid decision-making beyond standard project management processes. The study argues that effective crisis management begins with anticipating potential disruptions and preparing structured responses in advance.
The paper identifies four key tools adapted from emergency management to support crisis planning in projects: risk analysis, contingency planning, logic charts, and tabletop exercises. Risk analysis helps identify potential threats and prioritize them based on probability and impact, while contingency plans translate these risks into actionable response strategies. Logic charts provide structured decision-making pathways during crises, and tabletop exercises allow teams to simulate scenarios and rehearse responses in a controlled environment.
The study also emphasizes the importance of integrating crisis planning into the project lifecycle, rather than treating it as a reactive activity. It highlights that structured preparation improves decision speed, reduces uncertainty, and enhances organizational resilience. The summary table on page 6 clearly outlines how each tool contributes to crisis preparedness, ranging from risk identification to response simulation.
The paper concludes with practical recommendations for project managers, including conducting regular risk assessments, assigning responsibility for crisis planning, establishing communication systems, and practicing response strategies through simulations. It positions crisis management as a critical competency for project success in uncertain and dynamic environments.
To access this new resource, go to the Advanced Topics In P/PM section of the library at https://pmworldlibrary.net/advanced-hot-topics-in-ppm/, scroll down and click on “Crisis Project Management”, scroll down to resource. Must be a registered member and logged in to access. If not currently registered, please consider the FREE 30-Day Trial at https://pmworldlibrary.net/trial-membership.
This new resource provided through the PMWL university research internship program; to learn more, click here