What is BCM?

Business continuity management (BCM) is a business-owned, business-driven process that establishes a fit-for-purpose strategic and operational framework that:

proactively improves an organization’s resilience against the disruption of its ability to achieve its key objectives
provides a rehearsed method of restoring an organization’s ability to supply its key products and services to an agreed level within an agreed time after a disruption
delivers a proven capability to manage a business disruption and protect the organization’s reputation and brand.

While the individual processes of business continuity can change with an organization’s size, structures and responsibilities, the basic principles remain exactly the same for voluntary, private or public sector organizations, regardless of their size, scope or complexity.

Business Continuity Management SS540 or BS25999

Why an organization should undertake BCM

BCM forms an important element of good business management, service provision and entrepreneurial prudence. Managers and owners have the responsibility to maintain the ability of the organization to function without disruption. Organizations constantly make commitments or have a duty to deliver products and services, i.e. they enter into contracts and otherwise raise expectations.

All organizations have moral and social responsibilities, particularly where they provide an emergency response or a public or voluntary service. In some cases, organizations have statutory or regulatory duties to undertake BCM.

All business activity is subject to disruptions, such as technology failure, flooding, utility disruption and terrorism. BCM provides the capability to adequately react to operational disruptions while protecting welfare and safety.

BCM ought now to be regarded, not as a costly planning process, but as one that adds value to the organization

The benefits of an effective BCM programme

The benefits of an effective BCM programme are that the organization:

is able to proactively identify the impacts of an operational disruption
has in place an effective response to disruptions which minimizes the impact on the organization
maintains an ability to manage uninsurable risks
encourages cross-team working
is able to demonstrate a credible response through a process of exercising
could enhance its reputation
might gain a competitive advantage, conferred by the demonstrated ability to maintain delivery

Business Continuity Management SS540 or BS25999

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