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Mitigation vs. Contingency — What's the Difference?

By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 16, 2024
Mitigation involves proactive measures to reduce risks, focusing on prevention, while contingency planning entails preparing responses for potential future scenarios.
Mitigation vs. Contingency — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Mitigation and Contingency

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Key Differences

Mitigation strategies are implemented to reduce the likelihood or impact of a risk event, aiming at prevention and early intervention. Whereas, contingency planning is more about preparing responses to deal with the consequences if the risk event occurs.
Mitigation can involve long-term planning to avoid potential threats or minimize their effects on an ongoing basis. On the other hand, contingency plans are often developed to be executed only if a specific risk materializes.
Mitigation is generally considered a part of strategic planning, integral to the management of any project or operation from the beginning. Whereas, contingency is typically a reactive strategy, coming into play when mitigation measures are insufficient or fail.
Mitigation efforts might include training, safety measures, and policies to avoid risks. While, contingency measures could include backup systems, emergency funds, or detailed recovery plans.
Mitigation seeks to alter how operations are conducted to integrate risk considerations, reducing the need for emergency measures. In contrast, contingency planning accepts the possibility of risks materializing and focuses on effective response and recovery.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

Actions taken to reduce or eliminate risk before it occurs
Plans prepared to respond to an event if it occurs

Focus

Prevention and reduction
Response and recovery

Nature

Proactive
Reactive

Implementation

Throughout the project or process
Activated as needed

Examples

Safety training, quality control
Emergency plans, backup systems

Compare with Definitions

Mitigation

Efforts to reduce risk impact or likelihood.
Implementing strict quality control can mitigate manufacturing errors.

Contingency

Response strategies for unexpected events.
A company may have a power outage contingency plan.

Mitigation

Adoption of safety measures to prevent incidents.
Regular fire drills mitigate risks associated with fire emergencies.

Contingency

Backup systems to ensure continuity.
Hospitals have contingency plans that include backup generators.

Mitigation

Implementing policies that discourage harmful practices.
Enforcing environmental regulations mitigates pollution.

Contingency

Emergency procedures activated upon an event.
Evacuation plans are a contingency for natural disasters.

Mitigation

Changes in process to avoid potential threats.
Encrypting data mitigates the risk of cyber attacks.

Contingency

Plans developed for potential future incidents.
Businesses create contingency plans for IT system failures.

Mitigation

Strategic decisions to lower chances of adverse outcomes.
Diversifying investment portfolios mitigates financial risk.

Contingency

Funds reserved for unexpected needs.
Setting aside a contingency fund helps handle unforeseen expenses.

Mitigation

To make less severe or intense; moderate or alleviate.

Contingency

A future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty
A detailed contract which attempts to provide for all possible contingencies

Mitigation

To make alterations to (land) to make it less polluted or more hospitable to wildlife.

Contingency

An event that may occur but that is not likely or intended; a possibility.

Mitigation

A reduction or decrease of something harmful or unpleasant.

Contingency

A possibility that must be prepared for; a future emergency.

Mitigation

The act of mitigating, or the state of being mitigated; abatement or diminution of anything painful, harsh, severe, afflictive, or calamitous; as, the mitigation of pain, grief, rigor, severity, punishment, or penalty.

Contingency

The condition of being dependent on chance; uncertainty.

Mitigation

To act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious

Contingency

Something incidental to something else.

Mitigation

A partial excuse to mitigate censure; an attempt to represent an offense as less serious than it appears by showing mitigating circumstances

Contingency

(uncountable) The quality of being contingent, of happening by chance.

Contingency

(countable) A possibility; something which may or may not happen. A chance occurrence, especially in finance, unexpected expenses.

Contingency

An amount of money which a party to a contract has to pay to the other party (usually the supplier of a major project to the client) if he or she does not fulfill the contract according to the specification.

Contingency

A statement which is neither a tautology nor a contradiction.

Contingency

Union or connection; the state of touching or contact.

Contingency

The quality or state of being contingent or casual; the possibility of coming to pass.
Aristotle says we are not to build certain rules on the contingency of human actions.

Contingency

An event which may or may not occur; that which is possible or probable; a fortuitous event; a chance.
The remarkable position of the queen rendering her death a most important contingency.

Contingency

An adjunct or accessory.

Contingency

A certain possible event that may or may not happen, by which, when happening, some particular title may be affected.

Contingency

A possible event or occurrence or result

Contingency

The state of being contingent on something

Common Curiosities

What is the primary goal of mitigation?

To prevent risks from occurring or reduce their impact.

Why is it important to have both mitigation and contingency plans?

To comprehensively manage risks by both preventing them and preparing for their possible occurrence.

Can you give an example of a mitigation technique?

Regular system updates to prevent security breaches.

How does contingency planning differ from mitigation?

Contingency planning prepares specific responses for risks that might occur, while mitigation tries to prevent these risks.

What might a typical contingency plan include?

Emergency contact information, resources allocation, and response steps.

What role does contingency play in risk management?

It provides a prepared response option if initial risk management strategies fail.

How do mitigation and contingency plans impact business continuity?

They ensure that operations can continue during and after adverse events.

Is mitigation always effective?

Not always; hence the need for robust contingency plans.

When should mitigation strategies be developed?

At the planning phase of a project or operation to integrate risk considerations early.

What is an example of a contingency plan for a natural disaster?

An evacuation plan and established relief resource allocations.

Can mitigation include insurance policies?

Yes, purchasing insurance is a form of risk mitigation.

What could be considered a financial contingency plan?

Having a reserve budget or emergency fund.

How often should contingency plans be reviewed?

Regularly, to ensure they are up to date and applicable to current conditions.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat

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