---
sourceDocument: Australia IT Service Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/it-service-management

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia IT Service Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itsm

bundleId :

    - itsm

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Manage major incidents using the MI playbook

# Manage major incidents using the MI playbook {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 4 minutes to read  
Manage major incidents using the MI playbook from the contextual side panel or the Playbook tab of an incident record page. This playbook provides a simple, concise, and task-oriented interface for
managing the major incident process.

## Before you begin

The incident must be proposed as a major incident candidate. For more information, see [Propose a major incident](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/8Ps2nbba0akMdECJqpIifw "Propose an incident to a major incident candidate based on the incident information.").

The MI playbook must be assigned to Major Incident Management. For more information, see [Assign a playbook to Major Incident Management](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/0J8JLhQoV4S5rT1bWfFdjA "Configure and assign playbooks to manage the major incidents process.").

Role required: major_incident_manager or admin

## About this task

The MI playbook in Service Operations Workspace provides a guided approach to the entire major incident process. It provides a way to visualize business process workflows for major incidents in a simple, concise, and
task-oriented view.

## Procedure

1. Open an incident record that has been proposed as a major incident candidate.
2. Select the Major Incident Playbooks (![Major incident playbook]()) icon on a contextual side panel to launch the major incident playbook.  
   The Major Incident Playbook panel opens on the side panel. The panel includes the following tabs:
   * Current
   * History
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3. On the Current tab, select MI playbook.  
   You can view the major incident process steps and your progress along the following steps:
   * Review Situation
   * Communicate
   * Collaborate
   * Adhoc Communications \& Collaborations
   * Resolve
   * Create problem
   * Post Incident Review

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4. Review the incident information and then promote the major incident.
   1. Select Review Situation.
   2. Review the incident information.
   3. Select Promote to promote the incident to a major incident based on the incident information.  
      For more information, see [Promote a major incident](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/iHUriKsRBrT2a04XDHnOWQ "Review the information of the proposed major incident candidate and promote it to major incident using the Major Incident Playbook.").
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5. Communicate with stakeholders by composing a communication message, such as email or SMS.
   1. Select Communicate.
   2. On a communication task that you want to complete, select Compose to compose a communication message, such as email or SMS.  
      For more information, see [Compose communications for incidents and major incidents](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ssvTjQEupI2Z6RjYChfTBg "Compose communication messages for incidents and major incidents using communication channels such as email and SMS.").
   3. **Optional:** Select the More actions (![More action icon]()) icon for a communication task and then select Manage Recipients to add or manage the recipients for communications.  
      For more information, see [Manage recipients in a communication task](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/R8bBUXXgEb2g_5C93XZFCA "Manage the recipients list for a communication task to create flexible and effective communication with the required stakeholders.").

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   For more information, see [Compose communications for incidents and major incidents](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ssvTjQEupI2Z6RjYChfTBg "Compose communication messages for incidents and major incidents using communication channels such as email and SMS."). You can also add or manage recipients for the communications. For more information, see [Manage recipients in a communication task](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/R8bBUXXgEb2g_5C93XZFCA "Manage the recipients list for a communication task to create flexible and effective communication with the required stakeholders.").
6. Collaborate with stakeholders.
   1. Select Collaborate.
   2. Select a collaboration record, and then select one of the following options based on the selected type of collaboration channel:  
      * Start - To start a call.
      * Open discussion - To start a chat.

      {#manage-mi-playbook-mim-sow__ul_dzf_dzw_hbc}For more information on how to use these collaboration channels, see [Collaborate with stakeholders during a major incident](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/wjWGcjBxpyk59PLPSjzpXw "Collaborate with the required stakeholders during the various phases of a major incident to discuss and resolve the incident quickly. You can initiate a chat or make conference calls using a service provider to communicate with stakeholders.").
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7. Perform unplanned communications and collaborations.
   1. Select Adhoc collaboration and communication.  
      This section contains the following collaboration and communication records that are created separately than pre-defined and configured communications and collaboration plans:
      * Communications -- All the communications that you create using the New communication option from the Communicate tab or using the Incident communication plan related list on the Related records tab are displayed in this section. For more information on creating unplanned communications, see [Create an adhoc communication task](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/o~juPo~zgnRuJsWa3DMbsg "Create an adhoc communication task as required during the various phases of an incident in Major Incident Management.") and [Create adhoc communication and collaboration using the Related record tab](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/CIu0z_MOB_k6l_WcJon2cA "Create adhoc communication and collaboration using the incident communication plan related list on the Related records tab of an incident record page.").
      * Collaboration -- All the collaboration records that you create using the Incident Communications plan related list on the Related records tab are displayed in this section. For more information on creating unplanned communications and collaboration, see [Create adhoc communication and collaboration using the Related record tab](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/CIu0z_MOB_k6l_WcJon2cA "Create adhoc communication and collaboration using the incident communication plan related list on the Related records tab of an incident record page.").
   2. Select the one of the following options for unplanned communications and collaboration.  
      * For unplanned communications, you can do one of the following actions:
        * Select Compose to compose a communication message such as email or SMS. For more information, see [Compose communications for incidents and major incidents](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ssvTjQEupI2Z6RjYChfTBg "Compose communication messages for incidents and major incidents using communication channels such as email and SMS.").
        * Select the More actions (![More action icon]()) icon for a communication task and then select Manage Recipients to add or manage the recipients list for the communication task. For more information, see [Manage recipients in a communication task](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/R8bBUXXgEb2g_5C93XZFCA "Manage the recipients list for a communication task to create flexible and effective communication with the required stakeholders.").
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      * For unplanned collaboration, you can do one of the following actions:
        * Start a call - Select Start on a collaboration record to start a call with the stakeholders. For more information, see [Collaborate with stakeholders during a major incident](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/wjWGcjBxpyk59PLPSjzpXw "Collaborate with the required stakeholders during the various phases of a major incident to discuss and resolve the incident quickly. You can initiate a chat or make conference calls using a service provider to communicate with stakeholders.").
        * Start a chat -- Select Open discussion to start a chat with the stakeholders. For more information, see [Collaborate with stakeholders during a major incident](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/wjWGcjBxpyk59PLPSjzpXw "Collaborate with the required stakeholders during the various phases of a major incident to discuss and resolve the incident quickly. You can initiate a chat or make conference calls using a service provider to communicate with stakeholders.").
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8. Select Resolve.  
   For information on how to resolve a major incident, see, [Resolve and close a major incident](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Ku6pJ8ftjiJMJrsyT6oXyQ "Resolve a major incident to reinstate service after the interruption.").
9. Select Create Problem.  
   Note:  
   This section is visible in the playbook only if:
   * The incident doesn't have a problem record associated with it.
   * The Problem Management Best Practice - Madrid - State Model (com.snc.best_practice.problem.madrid.state_model) plugin is activated on the instance.
   * The Create problem from major incident flow is inactive on the instance. This flow is shipped as part of the base system in the Inactive status. Once activated, it creates a problem record automatically when an incident is promoted to a major incident.

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   You can also configure if the incident field information is copied automatically to the respective fields in a problem record using the List of attributes (comma-separated) that will be copied from the incident to create a new problem (com.snc.problem.create_from_incident.attributes) system property when a problem record is created. For more information, see [Create a problem](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/PxVRuY~nZaWv6v76ok6jEw "A problem is a cause of one or more incidents. Create a problem to identify the root cause of the incidents and try to prevent them from happening again.").  
   A problem record is created automatically. You can select View Problem to view the problem record on a separate tab.
10. Mark the post incident review as complete.
    1. Select Post Incident Review.
    2. Select Mark Complete to end the major incident process in the Playbook side panel.  
       You can continue to work on the post incident report review from the Post Incident Report tab on the Incident record page. For more information, see [Review and update a post incident report](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/B6JrdYw3TQSsxtDbecN19g "Review a post incident report (PIR) using the Post Incident Report tab. A PIR helps you review and understand the cause of the major incident and the actions taken by the teams to resolve the incident. This helps prevent the issue in the future.").
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