[BCM] [KL] [E2] [C6] BCM Plan Development

eBook 2: Chapter 6

Implement Business Continuity Plan (BCM Plan) Development Phase for Kinderland

Introduction

The Business Continuity Plan (BCM Plan) Development phase is a critical part of the Business Continuity Management (BCM) process. It translates the findings from the Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and Risk Analysis and Review (RAR) phases into actionable and practical strategies.

This phase focuses on creating a structured plan that can guide Kinderland in ensuring continuity of operations during any disruptions. It encompasses designing the plan, determining the recovery organisation, and ensuring that all units are aligned with the overall BCM framework.

This chapter will outline the steps involved in the development of the BCM plan for Kinderland, with examples that are relevant to the organisation's operations, particularly in maintaining continuity across critical functions such as classroom operations, curriculum delivery, and child health and safety services.

What Does Plan Development Entail?

The BCM Plan Development process involves several key stages to ensure that the plan is thorough, actionable, and aligned with Kinderland's organisational goals. The stages are as follows:

1. Determination of the Organisation of the BC Plan Document

The first step in the plan development phase is organising the structure of the Business Continuity Plan. For Kinderland, this will include establishing a standardised template that incorporates essential sections such as:

• Overview of the BCM Framework: A summary of the BCM approach and strategy at Kinderland.
• Roles and Responsibilities: Defining the roles of various stakeholders such as BCM coordinators, department heads, and recovery teams.
• Critical Business Functions (CBF): Identifying and prioritising key operations, such as classroom management (CBF-1) and child health services (CBF-3), which must continue during a disruption.

The template should also include sections for disaster recovery, communication protocols, and incident management.

2. Designing and Developing the BC Plan Template

Once the structure is determined, a detailed Business Continuity Plan template is designed.

For Kinderland, this template will need to be customised to the specific needs of its operations. For example, the plan template will focus on:

• Childcare and Educational Continuity: How to continue providing safe, educational environments for children, such as having backup childcare staff ready in case of an emergency.
• Health and Safety Protocols: Detailed plans for maintaining child health and safety, including emergency medical responses and food delivery plans.
• Communication Channels: How to communicate with parents and stakeholders, particularly in the event of an emergency affecting facilities or operations.

3. Determining the Recovery Organisation

In this step, the recovery organisation is established to lead the implementation of the BCM plan. The recovery team should include:

• BCM Coordinators: Responsible for ensuring the plan is adhered to across all departments. At Kinderland, the BCM coordinators should work closely with the HR and facility management teams to ensure continuity in staffing and building safety.
• Business Unit Heads: Heads of departments such as the Curriculum Development (CBF-2) and Facility Management (CBF-9) must be involved in the recovery process to ensure their respective functions continue seamlessly.
• Incident Response Teams: For example, in the event of a fire or natural disaster, an incident response team must be ready to evacuate children safely and ensure the facilities are secured.

4. Conducting a BC Plan Writing Workshop to Guide Plan Writers

A critical component of the plan development phase is educating and training those responsible for drafting the plan.

A BC Plan writing workshop is held to guide the business unit coordinators in the completion of their sections of the plan. In the case of Kinderland, this workshop will:

• Introduce the Plan Writing Process: Explain the structure of the plan and how each section should be completed.
• Provide Template Training: Walk through the BCM plan template to ensure that each department head understands what information is needed.
• Define Roles in Plan Writing: Clarify the roles of each business unit in contributing to the overall BCM plan. For example, the Curriculum Department will contribute by ensuring lesson plans and teaching materials are available remotely if needed.

5. Completion of the Plan Template by Individual Business Unit BCM Coordinators

Each business unit will complete its section of the plan based on the template provided. For Kinderland, the BCM Coordinators from each department, such as Classroom Operations (CBF-1) and Admissions and Enrollment (CBF-5), will complete their respective templates by:

• Identifying Critical Resources: Listing essential resources such as teaching staff, educational materials, and communication tools.
• Establishing Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs): Determining the maximum allowable downtime for each critical function.
• Describing Recovery Strategies: For example, the Classroom Operations unit might outline plans for transitioning to online learning platforms if physical classrooms are temporarily unavailable.

6. Finalisation of the BC Plan Production

After the individual units have completed their sections, the BCM plan is reviewed and finalised. This involves:

• Validation by BCM Coordinators and Heads of Business Units: Each unit’s BCM coordinator and department head will review the completed plan to ensure that all critical business functions are covered and recovery strategies are appropriate.
• Ensuring Completeness and Coverage: For example, the plan will include contingencies for all potential risks, such as staff shortages or disruptions to food supply chains.
• Approval by Senior Management: Once validated by the business units, the final BCM plan is submitted to senior management for approval.

The Business Continuity Plan (BCM Plan) Development phase is a vital step in ensuring that Kinderland can maintain operations during disruptions.

By following the structured process of determining the plan’s organisation, designing a detailed template, forming the recovery organisation, and involving all relevant stakeholders in the plan development, Kinderland can ensure a robust response to potential crises.

The collaborative nature of this phase, from workshops to the final review, ensures that the plan is comprehensive, realistic, and ready for implementation.

By the end of this phase, Kinderland will have a clearly defined, actionable BCM plan that will guide its response to any disruptions, ensuring the continuity of essential services such as child care, education, and health services.

This plan will form the foundation for the next steps in the BCM lifecycle, including testing, exercising, and refining the plan to keep it current and effective.

Building a Resilient Kinderland: A Practical Guide to Business Continuity Management
eBook 2: Implementing Business Continuity Management for Kinderland
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To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the  BCM-300 Business Continuity Management Implementer [BCM-3] and the BCM-5000 Business Continuity Management Expert Implementer [BCM-5].

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