The Key Words for Business Continuity

Based on ISO 22301:2012

It is necessary to start this topic with a real story

Suddenly, in a big hotel and resort at the time of sunsets, the guests found too much jelly fishes (dead and alive) are reaching the beach therefore this matter has enforced all guests to run and trying to cancel their bookings in that hotel, some asked for a compensation.

But I have seen in all these bad circumstances a confident man was speaking to all guests with a high level of professionalism and he was promising them that everything will be solved, and they have an alternative beach which will be ready by early morning, based on this promise many guests decided to wait till tomorrow’s morning, if this problem is not solved, they will leave the hotel immediately.

Next day all guests found at early morning 6 buses are waiting for them in front of the hotel main door for carrying them to another beach located very near to the hotel, the surprise was that other beach was furnished with a barbecue area plus a kitchen and Movable toilets including showers, seats and all of this has been installed in one night with the support of many subcontractors to continue the business.

I have realized at this time that some plans were in place and have been established in advance to solve such issues, the workers were trained appropriately on this plan to remove this kind of business interruption in a short time.

Now Please Ask yourself the following Questions, the answers can be the starting point of implementing ISO 22301 (BCM):

1. How would losing the ability to offer certain products and services damage your reputation and image?
2. Is the organization obligated by specific legal, regulatory? or contractual requirements on certain products, services and clients?
3. Does the organization depend on a single or few key clients?
4. What contractual obligations does the organization have to its key clients or suppliers?
5. Are there particular competitors that might take advantage?
6. If certain products and services were unavailable from your organization?

Note: It’s a big challenge to survive in an aggressive market so that many organizations are looking for establishing a system that can improve its ability to avoid and face any kind of business interruptions.

The advantages of implementing Business Continuity Management System

• Strengthen your organization’s ability to face any kind of potential business interruptions.
• Business Sustainability
• You will have a competitive edge.
• Enhance the Reputation & The name of the Organization in the market
• A BCMS is a driver for continual improvement across the organization.
• Better able to respond to the needs and expectations of interested parties;
• Financial benefits (possibly through insurance premiums) and through the ability to maintain predetermined business operation levels during times of disruption;
• Strengthened tendering process and outcome;
• Improved recruitment and retention rates by having better structured and controlled business processes;