People in Business Continuity Management (BCM)

 It heavily relies on people who are working both inside and around the BCMS. The success of any BCM program depends largely on the collaboration, awareness, and dedication of all stakeholders involved.

Who Are The Stakeholders?

The BCM ecosystem involves various stakeholders, each playing a crucial role:

BCM Staff: The core team responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining, and reviewing the BCMS. They are the main drivers of BCM activities.

Business Continuity Coordinators (BCCs): Assigned by various departments, they ensure that departmental business continuity plans are aligned with the organization’s overall BCM strategy.

BCM Steering Committee Members: Senior management responsible for providing direction, support, and resources for effective BCM implementation.

Suppliers: External parties that provide essential resources and services. Their preparedness and resilience are critical to maintaining business operations.

Emergency Agencies Staff: External entities that support the organization during incidents, such as emergency responders, regulators, and government bodies.

Auditors: Independent evaluators who assess the effectiveness of the BCM program and ensure compliance with standards and requirements.

Employees: All staff members who may be directly or indirectly involved in the organization’s BCM efforts.

The Importance of Each Stakeholder:

Each of these stakeholders plays a vital role in the BCM ecosystem. Underestimating or neglecting any of them can lead to gaps in the BCM framework, impacting the organization's ability to effectively respond to disruptions. The following principles are essential:

Collaboration: Effective BCM requires seamless cooperation among all stakeholders.

Departments must work together to ensure continuity plans are cohesive and comprehensive.

Awareness and Training: All stakeholders need regular training and awareness programs to stay prepared for potential incidents and understand their roles and responsibilities.

Inclusion in Exercises: Regular testing and exercises should involve all relevant stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness of the BCM plans and identify areas for improvement.

Feedback and Improvement: Continuous feedback from all parties is essential to refine strategies and enhance resilience.

Does your organization involve all relevant stakeholders in its Business Continuity Management System? How effective is the collaboration between them to ensure readiness and resilience?

BCM Steering Committee Members: Senior management responsible for providing direction, support, and resources for effective BCM implementation.

Suppliers: External parties that provide essential resources and services. Their preparedness and resilience are critical to maintaining business operations.

Emergency Agencies Staff: External entities that support the organization during incidents, such as emergency responders, regulators, and government bodies.

Auditors: Independent evaluators who assess the effectiveness of the BCM program and ensure compliance with standards and requirements.

Employees: All staff members who may be directly or indirectly involved in the organization’s BCM efforts.

The Importance of Each Stakeholder:

Each of these stakeholders plays a vital role in the BCM ecosystem. Underestimating or neglecting any of them can lead to gaps in the BCM framework, impacting the organization's ability to effectively respond to disruptions. The following principles are essential:

Collaboration: Effective BCM requires seamless cooperation among all stakeholders.

Departments must work together to ensure continuity plans are cohesive and comprehensive.

Awareness and Training: All stakeholders need regular training and awareness programs to stay prepared for potential incidents and understand their roles and responsibilities.

Inclusion in Exercises: Regular testing and exercises should involve all relevant stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness of the BCM plans and identify areas for improvement.

Feedback and Improvement: Continuous feedback from all parties is essential to refine strategies and enhance resilience.

Does your organization involve all relevant stakeholders in its Business Continuity Management System? How effective is the collaboration between them to ensure readiness and resilience?

Inclusion in Exercises: Regular testing and exercises should involve all relevant stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness of the BCM plans and identify areas for improvement.

Feedback and Improvement: Continuous feedback from all parties is essential to refine strategies and enhance resilience.

Does your organization involve all relevant stakeholders in its Business Continuity Management System? How effective is the collaboration between them to ensure readiness and resilience?