--- sourceDocument: Australia Governance, Risk, and Compliance sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/governance-risk-compliance Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Governance, Risk, and Compliance ft:clusterId : - grc bundleId : - grc workflow : - Technology --- # Creating action items in crisis events # Creating action items in crisis events {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated March 12, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Creating action items in crisis events Starting with BCM release 9.0.x, crisis managers can create ad-hoc action tasks for recovery members or teams during open crisis events or exercises. These tasks can be created spontaneously without linking them to event assets or recovery plans and are excluded from the event recovery timeline. This functionality enables real-time task assignment to support timely crisis response and assessments. Show full answer Show less ## Key Features * **Real-time task creation:** Crisis managers can assign immediate tasks such as safety checks, business continuity plan reviews, and situation assessments without prior mapping. * **Action item lifecycle states:** Tasks progress through states including Open, Work in progress (auto-captures start time), Skipped (marked not relevant and zeroes out time), and Closed (complete or incomplete, auto-captures end time). * **Task assignment flexibility:** Action items can be assigned to groups, individuals, or additional assignees to ensure clear responsibility. * **Distinct from event tasks:** Unlike event tasks, action items have no dependencies, no automated ordering, and their time tracking is separate from event recovery timelines. * **Role-based access:** Plan owners and program managers have full control to create, update, and delete action items; recovery members can read and update assigned tasks; viewers have read-only access. * **Integration with Smart Assessment:** Assigned users on action items sync automatically as collaborators in the linked Smart Assessment instance, supporting coordinated evaluations. * **Task types:** Action items can be created as standard tasks or assessment tasks, leveraging crisis event and Smart Assessment integration. ## Key Outcomes * Enables crisis managers to quickly assign and track critical recovery tasks during active crisis events or exercises. * Improves situational awareness and coordination by allowing real-time assessments and task delegation. * Supports clear accountability through defined task states and assignment fields. * Provides enhanced collaboration by syncing action item assignees with Smart Assessment participants. * Maintains separation from event recovery plans and timelines, allowing flexibility without affecting structured recovery workflows. Starting with BCM release 9.0.x, crisis managers can create action tasks for recovery members or teams anytime during open crisis events or exercises. Crisis managers can create these tasks on the fly without mapping them to event assets or recovery plans. These action tasks are also not included in the event recovery timeline. ## Action items in real-time {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__section_an3_1md_zfc} Action items can be used to assign tasks in real-time. For example, a crisis manager can assign an action item to verify that there are no injuries at a specific office location after an exercise. They can request someone to review the business continuity plan before proceeding to the next steps. You can also use action items to conduct assessments during a crisis event. For example, in the event of a fire, you can assign an action item to assess the situation, determining the severity, and identify affected employees and buildings. You can perform an assessment and assign an action item. ## Fields and states associated with Action items {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__section_x1t_jdc_zfc} The Action items tab contains details related to the ad-hoc tasks: * Actual start date * Actual end date * Total time taken * Event (Reference) * Short description * Description * Due date * Task numbers * Type * Task * Assessment {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__ul_hhj_rdc_zfc} The states associated with action items are described in the table.{#creating-action-items-in-crisis__table_c3r_g2c_zfc__entry__2} | State | Description | |-|-| | Open | First state of the action item. | | Work in progress | State of the action item when its work begins. When an action item moves to the Work in progress state, the system auto-captures its start time. | | Skipped | Assigned state of the action item when it is not relevant. When an action item is skipped and considered not relevant, its time fields are removed, resulting in a total time of 0. | | Closed (complete, incomplete) | Final state of the action item task. When an action item has been completed, the system auto-captures its end time. | [Table 1. States associated with action items] {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__table_c3r_g2c_zfc} BCM managers or planners can update the action items and can reopen the ad-hoc tasks associated with them. You can assign the action item tasks to the groups or team members by using these fields: * Assignment group * Assigned to * Additional assignee list {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__ul_lbs_x2c_zfc} ## Comparison between event tasks and action items {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__section_pnw_2fc_zfc} The action items are distinct from the event tasks in crises and events. The table outlines the differences between event tasks and action items. {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__table_gtp_vfc_zfc__entry__3} | Fields/Criteria | Event task | Action items | |-|-|-| | Details | * Short description * Description * Task numbers * Dependencies * Activated plan * Impacted assets * Task ID {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__ul_u4h_bgc_zfc} | * Short description * Description * Task numbers * Type {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__ul_b35_3gc_zfc} | | Assignment | * Assignment group * Assigned to * Recovery team * Additional assignee list {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__ul_zyx_jgc_zfc} | * Assignment group * Assigned to * Additional assignee list {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__ul_rbb_ngc_zfc} | | Access | * Plan owner, Program manager can create/update/delete action items. * Event recovery members can read/update action items that they are assigned to. {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__ul_r4n_4gc_zfc} | * Plan owner, Program manager can create/update/delete action items. * Event recovery members can read/update action items that they are assigned to. {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__ul_o1l_rgc_zfc} | | Workflow | Pending -\> Open -\> Work in progress -\> Skipped -\> Closed (complete, incomplete, failed) | Open -\> Work in progress -\> Skipped -\> Closed (complete, incomplete) | | Dependencies | Yes | No | | Automation | Yes | No | | Orders | Yes, order is auto-calculated based on dependencies. | No, order is not calculated for the action item tasks. | | Time calculation | Yes, the event tasks time is rolled up to activated plans, and impacted assets. | No, the event tasks time is not rolled up for the action item tasks. | [Table 2. Comparison between event tasks and action item tasks] {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__table_gtp_vfc_zfc} ## Roles associated with action items {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__section_pn5_2hc_zfc} The roles associated with action items are described in the table. {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__table_afb_fvj_zfc__entry__2} | Role | Description | |-|-| | Plan owner | Can create, read, update, and delete action items when the plan owner is the event owner. | | Program managers | Can create, read, update, and delete action items for all events. | | Viewers | Can read all action items. | | Recovery event/Plan owner | Can read and update all action items that they are assigned to. | [Table 3. Roles associated with action item tasks] {#creating-action-items-in-crisis__table_afb_fvj_zfc} * **[Action item collaborator synchronization with Smart Assessment](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/RDYgYu1qHaKU22D0KSDqtg)** When users are assigned to a recovery action item, they are automatically synced as collaborators on the linked Smart Assessment instance. * **[Create task and assessment-type action items](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/OeEaQEwfuo4QMqVPkGy_KA)** Use integration of crisis events and Smart Assessment for creating necessary action items related to the crisis event. The action items can be of task and assessment type.