[ITL] [4] [BCS] Training-led BCM Implementation: Evaluating the Business Continuity Strategy

Evaluating the Business Continuity Strategy

You would have completed your risk analysis and review (RAR) and business impact analysis (BIA) workshops at this stage and are about to start the second onsite day or Module 2 of online Blended Learning of the in-house BCM workshop.

This first 1/2-day session of BCM-320 will focus on the Business Continuity Strategy or BCS phase. 

This article is the fourth part of the BCM Training with Project Implementation series.   

This is the reading for Organisation BCM Coordinator and BU BCM Coordinators (the participants) embarking on BCM implementation training.  It is supplemented by support by experience BCM professionals to develop, implement and finalize its BCM program for an organisation.

Once the requirements gathering phases of RAR and BIA are completed, we will have sufficient information to start formulating business continuity strategies (BCS), the precursors of the business continuity plan.

The process of conducting the BCS phase in a "Training-led BCM Implementation" is as follows:

1. Supplementary Readings

1. Before the start of the workshop, participants will receive emails containing bite-size information (in the form of blogs) on the concepts and implementation of the business continuity strategies.

2. The purpose of doing so is to introduce participants to the fundamental concepts for BCS ahead of the workshop.

3. Participants are strongly encouraged to read the short articles, and this will help you as a participant to optimize your time at the BCS workshop by having a basic understanding of "what is BCS?" before you start the workshop.

What should participants do "Before" the workshop?

Participants are encouraged to:

1. Read through the supplementary material and try to write down any questions they may have on BCS.
2. Complete the e-learning module "Business Continuity Strategy"
3. Download the BC Strategy template from the eCampus Portal
4. Complete the BCS templates with the help of the "Guidance Notes" before attending the online workshop

2.  Facilitated Workshop

1. Mitigation strategies
2. Response strategies
3. Recovery strategies

The latest BCS templates with guidance notes are used to facilitate the strategy formulation. 

Participants should be advised that because the workshop is a 1-time group event, it is essential that participants lock this event in their calendars. No repeat workshop will be conducted for absent participants.

What should participants do "After" the workshop?

Participants are encouraged to:

1. Complete their BCS templates with their BU information based on the learning after the online workshop, if possible, in consultation with the head of the business unit
2. Review of the content of submission via email by the Facilitator as an assignment
3. Submit the finalized "reviewed" business unit or BU's BCS template submission via upload to BCM Institute's eCampus portal
4. Sent all submitted BCS from all the BUs to the Organisation BCM Coordinator for final reporting

Value-Adding Service

The access to the eLearning module is subjected to BCM Institute's agreement with the in-house organization: 

3. Consultation with Project Team Leader [Online]

After the online workshop, participants will have a designated period to complete and submit the templates to their appointed BCM project manager or Organisation BCM Coordinator, who will consolidate the templates and send the first draft of the report to the facilitator.

Optional: A complimentary 1-hour consultation session will be arranged for Organisation BCM Coordinator to review the compiled templates/ report with the consultant. This session is subjected to the initial conditions and class size as agreed upon during the start of the project.

What Preparation does the Organisation BCM Coordinator need to do before the consultation session:

1. Get the BCS report template to be presented to the management from the facilitator
2. Get all BU BCM Coordinators to submit their completed BCS template after attending the instructor's online session. The BU BCM Coordinators are expected to make edits to their business unit or BU's BCS template after the online workshop session.
3. Before the consultation session, comments will be sent via email to the designated facilitator.
4. Attend the consultation session at the appointed time (on Zoom)
5. Process the templates from all BU and write a report for submission to the organisation's management.
6. Re-edit the compiled BCS report and prepare to present the revised BCS report for management presentation.

If you are attending a public course, this course is similar to session 1 of the BCM-320 (Course code), and it is titled "Developing Business Continuity Strategies and Plans"

Once this session is completed, you are now ready to attend the "Plan Development" workshop to be held in the afternoon session.

Training-led BCM Implementation Roadmap