BCM Audit Questionnaires: Program Management: Training and Awareness

Training and Awareness

The idea of Training is to have a planned and organized activity to impart business continuity management (BCM) which include business continuity planning (BCP), crisis management (CM), crisis communication (CC) or disaster recovery (IT DR) skills, techniques and methodologies to all staff to assist them in establishing and maintaining their BCM program.

The concept of Awareness here aims to focus attention on creating an understanding of the basic BCM concerns. It is the knowing or possession of the knowledge of something by being alert or observant or by interpolating what is happening with the basic senses.

BCM Principles

The principles to be applied in this audit area are to be aware of:

• Importance and need for an organization-wide BCM program;
• Organization’s commitment to BCM;
• Emergency response procedures;
• Employee’s roles and responsibilities – both professional and personal;
• Possible scenarios of what will happen to business during an event; and
• Procedures to mitigate the impact of events.

Training

If sufficient training has not been provided then the BC plan will not be ready when disaster strikes. These are the specific questions to be asked:

• Are staff members aware of the existence of a BC plan?
• Are they aware of what their activities and business functions would be in the recovery process?
• Are they kept up to date with any amendments and changes?
• Is there a process for ensuring this is done?
• Has it been taken for granted that everyone is informed of his or her duties?
• Do the rest of the personnel know there is a plan?
• Do they know what is expected of them in the event of a disaster?
• Are the staff members provided with any kind of documents where basic information is recorded, such as emergency telephone numbers and the address of the recovery site?
• Is there a process for keeping this up to date?
• Is the Executive Management's participation crucial to the plan, or are they acting as figureheads?
• Is there a forum and process for the staff to question aspects of the BC plan and to add on to it their experience and expertise?

Resource

Goh, M. H. (2016). A Manager's Guide to Auditing and Reviewing Your Business Continuity Management Program. Business Continuity Management Series (2nd ed.). Singapore: GMH Pte Ltd.

Extracted from "BCM Questionnaires 8: Program Management: Training and Awareness"

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