[OR] eBook Chapter 2: Building the Case for Operational Resilience

Chapter 2: Building the Case for Operational Resilience

As Business Continuity Management (BCM) professionals, you're the guardians of preparedness, ensuring your organization can weather any storm.  

The emergence of Operational Resilience (OR) might raise some questions: Is it here to replace BC? Not!  OR is a powerful complement that builds upon your existing expertise.

This chapter explores the value proposition of OR, demonstrating its potential to enhance risk mitigation, generate cost savings, and, ultimately, strengthen your organization's brand reputation.

Additionally, we'll delve into how seamlessly aligning OR with your BC program can create a holistic approach to organizational resilience.

Addressing the BC vs. OR Conundrum: A Symphony, Not a Solo

One of the most common concerns among BCM professionals is the perceived overlap between BC and OR.  

Here's the key takeaway: OR is not a replacement but an evolution. At the same time, BC focuses on ensuring the continuity of critical business functions during disruptions OR takes a broader perspective. It encompasses prevention, adaptation, recovery, and learning from disruptions, fostering a more proactive and adaptable organizational posture.  

Think of BC as a vital instrument within the larger orchestra of OR.  Both play distinct yet complementary roles in ensuring your organization's resilience.

The Compelling Value Proposition of OR: A Win on Multiple Fronts

Now, let's delve into the compelling reasons to champion OR within your organization.  Here are some key benefits:

Enhanced Risk Mitigation

OR goes beyond traditional BC by considering a more comprehensive range of potential threats, not just those directly impacting critical business services. This proactive approach allows for early identification and mitigation of risks before they can disrupt operations.

Cost Savings

By preventing disruptions or minimizing their impact, OR can significantly save costs. Reduced downtime, improved recovery times, and fewer losses from incidents all contribute to a more robust financial bottom line.

Brand Reputation Protection

Disruptions can have a devastating impact on an organization's reputation. OR, with its focus on prevention and rapid recovery, helps safeguard your brand image by minimizing the adverse effects of disruptions. Investors, customers, and partners will view your organization as more reliable and trustworthy.

These are just a few of the ways OR can add tremendous value to your organization.  By building a strong case for OR, you can gain leadership buy-in and secure the resources necessary to implement a robust program.

Aligning OR with BC: A Holistic Approach to Resilience

Now that we understand the unique value of OR, let's explore how it can be seamlessly integrated with your existing BC program. The good news is that BCM professionals possess a wealth of knowledge and experience that directly translates to OR implementation.  

Your existing BC frameworks, risk assessments, and business continuity plans can serve as a strong foundation for building an OR program. Here's how:

Leverage Existing Risk Assessments

Expand your existing BC risk assessments to consider a broader range of operational threats relevant to OR. This holistic view will inform your OR program development.

Refine Business Continuity Plans

Incorporate OR principles into your BC plans by considering alternative service delivery methods and building in greater flexibility for adapting to changing circumstances.

Develop a Comprehensive OR Program

Utilize your BCM expertise to build an OR program that encompasses threat identification, vulnerability assessments, risk mitigation strategies, and incident response protocols.

By aligning OR with your existing BC program, you create a powerful, unified approach to organizational resilience.  You leverage existing strengths while embracing the broader perspective of OR, ultimately creating a more robust and adaptable organization.

Summing Up ...

This chapter has shed light on the value proposition of OR and its complementary relationship with BC.  

In the next chapters, we'll delve deeper into building and implementing a comprehensive OR program, equipping you with the practical steps to turn this valuable concept into a reality within your organization.

More Information About Operational Resilience Course OR-5000 [OR-5] or OR-300 [OR-3]

To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the OR-300 Operational Resilience Implementer [OR-3] course and the  OR-5000 Operational Resilience Expert Implementer [OR-5] course.