The Need for Business Continuity Plans
The contents of a business continuity plan are usually subject to business decisions, but it is nonetheless a great requirement for the success of any company. Business continuity plans serve as …
The contents of a business continuity plan are usually subject to business decisions, but it is nonetheless a great requirement for the success of any company. Business continuity plans serve as an important tool in a company’s planning. Planning, organizing and prioritizing the assets of a company is the first step towards achieving success. So, when planning your assets, there are certain things you must keep in mind.
The most important asset is the human resource.
You must consider the human resources of your company carefully before making any kind of planning. Human resource includes everything from executive management down to clerks and office staff.
Since human resource matters, your company must be prepared for the kind of financial cost that will incur from its implementation. The financial implications are not only going to affect the budget of the company, but also the future. In order to avoid any unexpected events, companies must incorporate various risk measures into their business continuity plan.
Next, when you prepare a business continuity plan, you have to ensure that it covers a wide range of activity. Business continuity plans should cover situations where people in the company can be affected by the planned events. For example, a company may have to do with the following scenarios: disasters, fires, contamination, tsunami, flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes, breakdowns, strikes, lockouts, civil unrest, accidents, terrorist attacks, pandemics, or theft. Each of these scenarios has specific aspects that need to be covered in the plan.
As for the structure of your plan, you should outline all the preventive measures. You may also focus on activities such as getting employees notified of upcoming events. It would be better if you would take steps to inform all of your employees of any large or sudden event so that they could take the necessary steps to avoid the situation.
With the event, the effect will have serious consequences to your company, both short-term and long-term. It is advisable to formulate a list of actions that will be taken for the management of these situations.
Prioritize your actions with the seriousness of the situation.
You may want to organize in advance the steps you would take during an emergency and where to find help. In this way, you can prevent any complications that may occur.
It is also important to be familiar with the type of disasters that may occur. Once you are aware of the risk factors, you can easily take preventive measures in order to minimize the risks of losses.
Companies that are already aware of what to do in the event of a disaster can certainly prevent further losses. These steps are described in detail in the business continuity plan. Remember that your business continuity plan must include areas such as disaster insurance, fire safety program, terrorist threats, civil unrest, public health program, loss of records, and human resources.
The terms “business continuity”planning” may sometimes seem contradictory to business owners. However, they are often used interchangeably. You should always identify that a business continuity plan is a collection of standard operating procedures that, if followed properly, would help to protect your company in the case of disasters.
For example, if a computer system is out, all employees must be informed before it can be restored. The plan should also include basic protocols for storing company documents. This includes considering the preservation of important data and images.
- More than anything, a business continuity plan must create an environment that makes it easier for employees to continue working for the company’s success.
- The business continuity plan is a part of a business’ planning, but it must be done thoroughly.
- It should be a written document that meets and exceeds your company’s requirements.