Briefing
Briefing IIMARCH
Once commanders have made decisions and decided on actions, information must be relayed in a structured way that can be easily understood by those who will carry out actions or support activities. This is commonly known as briefing. Using IIMARCH headings as a guide, a brief can be prepared in appropriate detail.
IIMARCH (Information, Intent, Method, Administration, Risk Assessment, Communications and Humanitarian Issues) is not the only structured briefing format available. However, it is widely used by emergency responders.
When using IIMARCH to prepare a briefing it is helpful to consider the following:
- Brevity is important - if it is not relevant, leave it out
- Communicate using unambiguous language free from jargon and in terms people will understand
- Check that others understand and explain if necessary
- Consider whether an agreed information assessment tool or framework has been used
To download an example IIMARCH template click here.
When using IIMARCH the following should be considered:
| Element | Key questions | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| INFORMATION | What, where, when, how? So what? What might? How many? |
Major Incident (declared or not?) |
| INTENT | Why are we here? What are we trying to achieve? |
|
| METHOD | How are we going to do it? |
|
| ADMINISTRATION | What is required for effective, efficient and safe implementation? |
|
| RISK ASSESSMENT | What are the relevant risks? What measures are required tomitigate them? |
|
| COMMUNICATIONS | How are we going to initiate and |
|
| HUMANITARIAN ISSUES | What humanitarian assistance and |
|