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How to Create, Assign, and Manage Action Plans in Essential ERM

Action Plans track follow-up tasks that can be assigned, updated, and linked to Risks or Mitigations.

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Written by Nigel Groen
Updated over 3 weeks ago

a. Action Plan Details Screen

Clicking an Action Plan name opens its Details screen, where Admin and Standard Users can:

  • Edit the name and description
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  • Assign a due date, status, and owner (only one at a time)
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  • Attach related Risks and Mitigations
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  • Add notes and link documents or Indicators
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  • View the change log
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b. Automated Reminders & Collecting Updates (optional feature)

If enabled, Users can set automated email reminders via the Request Updates section.

Two options are available:

  1. Recurring Reminders – Emails are sent on a schedule until the status is marked Completed or Canceled
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  2. Reminder Before Due Date – Sends a one-time reminder before the due date, with an optional follow-up if no action is taken
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Users must click the green Save button after making changes.

Click Request Update Now to send an immediate update email.

What Recipients See:

  • They’ll get a link to update the Action Plan (valid for 72 hours)
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  • No login is needed
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  • Status, due date, and description can be changed
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  • Notes can be added — each submission is logged separately
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  • Updates appear in the Action Plan’s Change Log
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This works well for both internal Users and external Contributors. Confirm with your IT or security team before involving external users.

c. Action Plan Explorer – Timeline View

Go to Actions in the top menu to access the Explorer.

  • Default view shows open Action Plans in a monthly scrollable timeline
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  • View can be changed to a quarterly view using the “Monthly” dropdown
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  • Click an Action Plan to open it
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Status Light Colors:

  • Red = Past due
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  • Yellow = Planned, Delayed, or On Hold
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  • Green = In Progress or Complete
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  • Gray = Canceled
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Use the dropdown to switch between Active and All Actions.

Drag-and-drop an Action Plan to:

  • Change the due date
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  • Mark it as Complete or Canceled using the pop-up buttons
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d. Action Plan Explorer – Grid View

Switch from Timeline to Grid view using the icon at the top left.

This view includes:

  • More filters (e.g. Portfolio, if enabled)
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  • Attached Risks and Indicators
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  • Clickable links to open related records
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If a User doesn’t have access to an attached Risk, it will display as “Restricted Risk” with no link.

Applies to: Admin Users, Standard Users, Contributors

Keywords: action plans, reminders, contributor updates, grid view, timeline view, update requests, task tracking

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