A predetermined course of action designed to respond effectively to potential future events, emergencies, or unexpected circumstances that could disrupt normal operations.
The phrase originated in military planning during WWII, combining 'contingency' from Latin 'contingere' (to touch or befall) with 'plan' from Latin 'planus' (flat surface for drawing). It entered business vocabulary in the 1960s as corporations adopted military-style strategic planning methods.
Contingency planning reveals a fascinating paradox: the more detailed your backup plan, the less likely you are to need it, but the more confident you become in taking risks. The COVID-19 pandemic showed that even the most comprehensive contingency plans often failed to imagine scenarios that seemed impossible—until they weren't.
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