[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On the face of it, business continuity is a robust process. You gather the appropriate information, apply methodologies to assess business risk and impact, map potential impacts onto business continuity measure of protection, and put those measures in place[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”2971″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” image_hovers=”false” lazy_loading=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You might also determine costs, budgets, efficiency, results and so on, to see what sort of return you are getting on your investment.
The weak point is perhaps at the start of all this. Are you sure you are getting the right information? Are any risks or problem areas being covered up, thus flawing your BC planning or management?
You might need some help from people who really know what’s going on.
There can be a number of reasons why important information for business continuity planning is omitted. Time pressure, peer or management pressure, ignorance and faulty communications are just some examples.
However, if a situation arises in which somebody notices that safety is threatened or risks are being ignored, it is essential for good business continuity that the person concerned is able to express those dangers without fear of reprisals.
That takes a suitable internal whistleblowing facility that makes people feel that reporting on business continuity vulnerabilities is the right and the safest thing to do.
The trick is to instigate such a procedure in a way that avoids the airing of personal grievances (an enterprise should have other procedures available for this) and gratuitous sniping, and that positions whistleblowing as being clearly in the interest of the enterprise and employees.
Anonymity for a person providing information about BC flaws or dangers should be a given. It is then up to the business continuity manager to dig out all the details and take the appropriate business continuity action.
Of course, if work safety or similarly critical aspects have been compromised, disciplinary action may also be required.
But better a company with healthy business continuity that does sound business and safeguards workforce jobs, than a company unaware that it harbours a business time-bomb that could explode at any moment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]