Step 6: Establish a Planning Organization

Identify a Planning Committee and Team

Before the start of the BC planning project, the organization will need to assemble the steering committee and project planning team:

• BCP Steering Committee
• Organization BCM Coordinator
• BU BCM Coordinators
• Support Unit BCM Coordinators for:
  • People
  • Technology
  • Facilities
  • Logistics
• Internal and External Consultant

Types of Organization

Often, organizations have difficulties differentiating between BCP project organization and the recovery organization. I would strongly advise you to design the organization such that it will transform or map directly to the recovery organization once the project is completed.

BCP Project Organization

Whenever a BCP project is initiated, the BCP Project Organization is typical as follows:

BCP Project Organization

Business Continuity Recovery Organization

Once the BCP Project is completed, the BCP Project Organization is transformed into a BC Recovery Organization.

BC Recovery Organization

Clear Terms of Reference (TOR)

The Terms of Reference for a BCP project can be compared to the syllabus for a course of study. Without an agreed syllabus you will not know what you will be tested on and the chance of passing is negligible. The Project Management phase is very much like the lead-up to an exam and the exam itself.

You need to know what is expected of you, what specific authority you have as well as what the limits are. All too often, an organization starts with a position, which has been ill-defined. This is the first step to possible failure.

These are some guidance on the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the:

• BCP Steering Committee
• Organization BCM Coordinator
• BU BCM Coordinators
• Internal/External Consultants

Conclusion

The key deliverable in this step is to identify and develop the “people” aspect of the BCP framework. The committee and BCP team members to steer, plan and develop the project are highly critical to ensure the success of your BCP project.

Reference

Goh, M. H. (2021). Managing Your Business Continuity Planning Project. Business Continuity Management Planning Series (3rd ed.). Singapore: GMH Pte Ltd.

Extracted from "Chapter 10: Step 6: Establish a Planning Organization"

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