Business Continuity Management
The process of Business Continuity Management (BCM) is defined by the Business Continuity Institute as:
"a holistic management process that identifies potential impacts that threaten an organisation and provides a framework for building resilience with the capability for an effective response that safeguards the interests of its key stakeholders, reputation, brand and value-creating activities"
In simpler terms, it is the bridge between a disruption affecting an organisation's ability to deliver its services and how quickly it returns to "business as usual". It is a flexible planning framework designed to help organisations identify which activities and resources are essential. The framework will help you develop plans that can help your organisation to continue running in the face of a wide range and severity of disruptions.
Failing to plan is planning to fail!
Disruptions can occur in many forms. These could be internal to the organisation or community-based. They may include:
- fire;
- fuel crisis;
- flood or other natural disasters;
- loss of staff. For example a flu pandemic.
- loss of utilities or access to premises. For example the Buncefield fuel depot fire in Hertfordshire;
- communication failure or industrial action;