eBook 2: Chapter 8
Program Management Phase for BCM Planning Methodology for
for The Saudi Mortgage Guarantees Services Company
Introduction
The Program Management (PgM) phase is the final phase of the Business Continuity Management (BCM) Planning Methodology for The Saudi Mortgage Guarantees Services Company (Damanat).
The preceding phases establish Damanat's BCM capability through a structured implementation process:
-
Project Management (PM)
-
Risk Analysis and Review (RAR)
-
Business Impact Analysis (BIA)
-
Business Continuity Strategy (BCS)
-
Plan Development (PD)
-
Testing and Exercising (TE)
-
Program Management (PgM)
While the earlier phases establish the initial capability, Program Management ensures that this capability remains effective over time.
This distinction is important.
Business functions change. Employees move into new roles. Technology platforms are replaced. Suppliers change.
New products and services are introduced. Regulatory requirements evolve. New threats emerge. Recovery strategies that were appropriate when initially developed may become inadequate several years—or even several months—later.
Without ongoing Program Management, a Business Continuity Plan can progressively become disconnected from the organisation it is intended to protect.
For Damanat, Program Management should therefore establish a continuous governance and improvement framework that covers BCM policy, management oversight, plan maintenance, BIA and risk review, training, awareness, testing, corrective actions, assurance, performance monitoring, and management review.
The objective is to transition BCM from an implementation project into an embedded organisational management capability.
Purpose of Program Management
Earlier chapters focus largely on creating BCM capability. This chapter focuses on sustaining that capability.
It provides a practical framework through which Damanat can:
- establish ongoing BCM governance;
- maintain BCM policies and methodologies;
- keep BIAs and risk assessments current;
- maintain Business Continuity Strategies;
- review and update Business Continuity Plans;
- maintain employee competency;
- promote BCM awareness;
- manage Testing and Exercising;
- track corrective actions;
- monitor BCM performance;
- conduct management reviews;
- provide independent assurance; and
- continually improve the BCM program.
Program Management should answer the fundamental question:
“How does Damanat ensure that the BCM capability developed through the preceding phases remains current, effective and ready for use?”
How This Chapter Benefits Damanat
This chapter benefits Damanat by providing the management structure required to move BCM from a periodic planning exercise into a sustainable organisational discipline.
Effective Program Management helps Damanat to:
Maintain Readiness
Business Continuity Plans and recovery arrangements remain aligned with current operating conditions.
Maintain Management Oversight
Senior management receives information on BCM capabilities, gaps, exercises, and improvement priorities.
Maintain Regulatory Alignment
Changes in applicable requirements can be incorporated into BCM policies, processes and evidence.
Maintain Employee Capability
Employees continue to understand their BCM responsibilities through training, awareness and exercises.
Maintain Recovery Capability
Changes to technology, suppliers, processes and resources are assessed for continuity implications.
Demonstrate Assurance
Damanat can provide evidence that its BCM arrangements are reviewed, tested, monitored and improved.
Support Continual Improvement
Lessons from incidents, exercises, audits and reviews are translated into measurable improvements.
The overall benefit is therefore the establishment of a living BCM program rather than a collection of static Business Continuity Plans.
From BCM Project to BCM Program
A distinction should be made between Project Management and Program Management.
Project Management is primarily concerned with implementing the BCM capability.
Program Management is concerned with sustaining it.
|
Project Management |
Program Management |
|
Establishes BCM |
Sustains BCM |
|
Defines initial scope |
Maintains and reviews scope |
|
Establishes governance |
Operates governance |
|
Conducts initial RAR and BIA |
Periodically reviews RAR and BIA |
|
Develops strategies |
Reviews strategy effectiveness |
|
Develops BCPs |
Maintains BCPs |
|
Establishes initial exercise program |
Operates ongoing exercise cycle |
|
Implements capability |
Measures and improves capability |
The transition occurs when the initial BCM implementation is substantially complete, and BCM activities move into a recurring management cycle.
Core Components of Damanat's BCM Program Management
Damanat's Program Management framework should include the following components:
- BCM governance and oversight.
- BCM policy and framework maintenance.
- RAR and BIA maintenance.
- Business Continuity Strategy maintenance.
- BCP maintenance.
- Testing and Exercising management.
- Training and competency.
- BCM awareness.
- Incident and exercise lessons learned.
- Corrective-action management.
- Supplier and third-party continuity oversight.
- BCM performance measurement.
- Internal review and assurance.
- Management review.
- Continual improvement.
These components collectively provide the mechanisms through which BCM remains embedded within normal organisational management.
BCM Governance and Oversight
Effective Program Management begins with governance.
Damanat should maintain a defined BCM governance structure that establishes:
- senior management accountability;
- BCM program ownership;
- committee oversight;
- Business Unit responsibilities;
- BCM Coordinator responsibilities;
- reporting requirements;
- escalation arrangements; and
- decision-making authority.
The BCM governance structure established during Project Management should therefore continue after the implementation project ends.
A typical governance model may include:
Board / Senior Management
↓
BCM Committee
↓
BCM Manager / BCM Function
↓
Heads of Business Units
↓
Business Unit BCM Coordinators
↓
Business Continuity and Recovery Teams
Each level should understand its responsibilities.
BCM Committee
The BCM Committee should provide ongoing oversight of the program.
Its responsibilities may include:
- reviewing BCM performance;
- monitoring implementation status;
- reviewing significant continuity risks;
- approving BCM policies and methodologies;
- reviewing BIA results;
- reviewing recovery capability gaps;
- monitoring exercise results;
- tracking corrective actions;
- reviewing major incidents;
- addressing resource requirements;
- reviewing supplier continuity concerns; and
- escalating significant matters to senior management.
Meetings should be supported by documented agendas, minutes, decisions and action records.
BCM Policy and Framework Maintenance
Damanat's BCM Policy establishes the organisation's management commitment and overall requirements for business continuity.
The policy should be reviewed periodically and whenever significant changes occur.
The review should consider:
- organisational changes;
- regulatory changes;
- changes in business strategy;
- changes in Critical Business Functions;
- major technology transformation;
- significant outsourcing;
- changes in operating locations;
- lessons from incidents;
- audit findings; and
- exercise results.
Supporting methodologies should also remain aligned with the policy.
These may include:
- RAR methodology;
- BIA methodology;
- BCS methodology;
- BCP methodology;
- Testing and Exercising methodology; and
- BCM maintenance requirements.
Maintaining the Risk Analysis and Review
Threats and vulnerabilities change over time.
Damanat should therefore periodically review its BCM Threat and Risk Register.
The review should consider changes affecting:
People + Processes + Technology + Premises + Information + Suppliers + External Environment
Example
Suppose Damanat migrates its major mortgage-guarantee processing capability to a new technology platform.
The change could introduce:
- new technology dependencies;
- new service providers;
- different recovery capabilities;
- new cybersecurity risks;
- changed backup arrangements; and
- new external interfaces.
The existing RAR should therefore be reviewed rather than waiting for the next routine BCM cycle.
Maintaining the Business Impact Analysis
BIA information should also be periodically validated.
Business Units should confirm whether:
- Critical Business Functions remain correctly identified;
- impact assessments remain accurate;
- RTOs remain appropriate;
- RPOs remain appropriate;
- MBCOs remain appropriate;
- minimum staffing requirements have changed;
- technology dependencies have changed;
- premises requirements have changed;
- supplier dependencies have changed; and
- internal interdependencies remain accurate.
Damanat Example
If Mortgage Guarantee Origination becomes increasingly automated, its dependence on technology may increase while its minimum staffing requirements decrease.
The BIA should reflect these changes.
An outdated BIA leads directly to inappropriate recovery strategies.
Maintaining Business Continuity Strategies
Strategies should be periodically reviewed to determine whether they continue to meet approved recovery requirements.
Damanat should ask:
- Can the strategy still achieve the RTO?
- Can the required RPO still be achieved?
- Can the MBCO be supported?
- Are required employees still available?
- Does the alternate workplace have sufficient capacity?
- Is remote-access capacity sufficient?
- Has technology architecture changed?
- Are critical suppliers still contracted?
- Have supplier recovery capabilities changed?
- Are alternative communication arrangements still operational?
Example
A remote-working strategy designed when 30 employees needed recovery access may no longer be adequate if the current requirement is 80 employees.
Program Management should identify this capacity gap before an actual disruption.
Business Continuity Plan Maintenance
BCPs should be treated as controlled operational documents.
Damanat should establish a formal review cycle and event-driven update process.
Plan maintenance should verify:
- contact information;
- plan ownership;
- recovery-team membership;
- alternate personnel;
- activation procedures;
- recovery priorities;
- technology dependencies;
- supplier information;
- workplace arrangements;
- recovery procedures;
- communication arrangements; and
- return-to-normal procedures.
Updates should be subject to document control and appropriate approval.
Event-Driven Plan Reviews
BCPs should not be updated only according to a fixed calendar.
Certain changes should automatically trigger review.
Examples include:
- organisational restructuring;
- Business Unit reorganisation;
- personnel changes affecting recovery roles;
- relocation;
- new technology;
- major application upgrades;
- supplier changes;
- outsourcing;
- new Critical Business Functions;
- significant process changes;
- actual incidents;
- failed exercises; and
- regulatory changes.
Damanat Example
If the primary BCM Coordinator for Mortgage Guarantee Origination leaves Damanat, the relevant BCP should be updated promptly rather than waiting for its next annual review.
Testing and Exercising Program Management
Testing and Exercising should operate as a recurring program rather than a collection of isolated tests.
Damanat should maintain an exercise schedule covering:
Initial Tests
- Component Tests
- Call Notification Tests
- Walkthrough Exercises
Advanced Tests
- Integrated Tests
- Simulation Tests
- Live Tests
The exercise program should identify:
- plans to be tested;
- exercise objectives;
- Critical Business Functions;
- exercise type;
- participants;
- scenarios;
- third parties;
- target dates;
- results;
- corrective actions; and
- re-testing requirements.
Exercise maturity should increase progressively.
BCM Training and Competency
Employees with BCM responsibilities should possess the knowledge and skills required to perform their roles.
Training should be role-based.
Senior Management
Training should address:
- BCM governance;
- decision-making;
- crisis escalation;
- regulatory responsibilities; and
- strategic recovery priorities.
Business Unit Heads
Training should address:
- BIA ownership;
- strategy approval;
- BCP responsibilities;
- resource requirements; and
- recovery leadership.
BCM Coordinators
Training should address:
- RAR;
- BIA;
- strategy development;
- BCP development;
- plan maintenance;
- exercise coordination; and
- recovery procedures.
Recovery Team Members
Training should focus on:
- activation;
- individual responsibilities;
- recovery procedures;
- communication; and
- escalation.
Competency should be reinforced through exercises rather than relying only on classroom instruction.
BCM Awareness
Training and awareness serve different purposes.
Training develops competency among employees with specific BCM responsibilities.
Awareness ensures that the wider organisation understands basic continuity expectations.
Damanat's awareness program may include:
- employee induction;
- awareness briefings;
- intranet information;
- BCM awareness campaigns;
- quick-reference guides;
- posters;
- short videos;
- management messages; and
- periodic exercises.
Employees should at minimum understand:
- how they will be notified;
- where to obtain instructions;
- basic evacuation and safety expectations;
- remote-working requirements;
- communication responsibilities; and
- who to contact regarding BCM matters.
Lessons Learned Management
Every significant incident and exercise should create an opportunity for organisational learning.
Damanat should establish a formal process:
Incident / Exercise
→ Debrief
→ Lessons Identified
→ Root Cause Analysis
→ Corrective Action
→ Owner Assigned
→ Implementation
→ Validation
→ Closure
Lessons should not remain only within exercise reports.
They should feed into relevant:
- RARs;
- BIAs;
- strategies;
- BCPs;
- training;
- technology recovery arrangements;
- supplier arrangements; and
- future exercises.
Corrective-Action Management
Program Management should maintain a central BCM Corrective Action Register.
An illustrative structure is:
|
Finding |
Source |
Required Action |
Owner |
Target |
Status |
|
Remote access capacity inadequate |
Exercise |
Increase recovery capacity |
IT |
Q3 |
Open |
|
Contact information outdated |
Call test |
Update recovery contacts |
BU BCM Coordinator |
2 weeks |
Open |
|
Supplier RTO exceeds Damanat requirement |
BIA review |
Review contractual recovery |
Procurement |
Q4 |
Open |
|
Approval authority unclear |
Walkthrough |
Update delegation arrangement |
BU Head |
1 month |
Completed |
|
Data restoration exceeds RPO |
DR Test |
Improve recovery arrangement |
IT |
Q3 |
Open |
Significant overdue actions should be escalated through BCM governance.
Managing Third-Party Continuity
Damanat's BCM capability can be weakened by dependencies on suppliers that cannot meet required recovery objectives.
Program Management should therefore maintain oversight of critical suppliers.
The process may include:
- identifying critical suppliers;
- maintaining supplier BCM requirements;
- reviewing supplier BCPs;
- obtaining evidence of exercises;
- reviewing supplier recovery objectives;
- assessing concentration risk;
- monitoring service changes;
- reviewing contractual BCM clauses;
- including suppliers in Damanat exercises; and
- tracking supplier continuity deficiencies.
Damanat Example
If an external technology provider supports a service required by Mortgage Guarantee Origination within four hours, Damanat should determine whether that provider can support the same recovery requirement.
If the provider's recovery commitment is 24 hours, a significant dependency gap exists.
Managing Changes to Critical Business Functions
Program Management should be integrated with organisational change.
When Damanat introduces a significant new service, process, technology or supplier, BCM implications should be assessed as part of the change rather than after implementation.
A BCM change assessment could ask:
- Does the change create a new Critical Business Function?
- Does it change an existing RTO or RPO?
- Does it introduce a new supplier?
- Does it introduce a new technology dependency?
- Does it remove an existing recovery arrangement?
- Does it change minimum staffing?
- Does it affect alternate workplace requirements?
- Does the BCP require updating?
- Is additional testing required?
This makes BCM proactive rather than reactive.
BCM Performance Measurement
Damanat should establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) to monitor the BCM program.
Possible indicators include:
|
Indicator |
Example Measure |
|
BIA Currency |
% of BIAs reviewed within the required cycle |
|
BCP Currency |
% of BCPs currently approved |
|
Exercise Completion |
% of planned exercises completed |
|
Exercise Success |
% achieving defined objectives |
|
RTO Achievement |
% of tested functions meeting RTO |
|
Training |
% of BCM personnel completing required training |
|
Corrective Actions |
% closed by target date |
|
Supplier Assurance |
% of critical suppliers assessed |
|
Contact Accuracy |
% of recovery contacts successfully validated |
|
Audit Findings |
Number of overdue significant BCM findings |
The purpose of measurement is not to produce large volumes of statistics. Metrics should help management determine whether Damanat's continuity capability is improving or deteriorating.
BCM Management Dashboard
A management dashboard may summarise the overall status of the BCM program.
For example:
|
BCM Area |
Status |
Key Observation |
|
RAR |
Current |
Annual review completed |
|
BIA |
Attention Required |
Two functions overdue |
|
BCP |
Current |
95% approved |
|
Testing |
Attention Required |
One DR test below RTO |
|
Training |
Current |
Recovery-team training completed |
|
Suppliers |
Attention Required |
One critical supplier recovery gap |
|
Corrective Actions |
Attention Required |
Three overdue actions |
|
Audit |
Current |
No major outstanding findings |
The dashboard should support decision-making and escalation.
Internal Review and Assurance
Damanat should periodically assess whether its BCM program is operating as intended.
Assurance may include:
- self-assessment;
- BCM quality review;
- internal audit;
- compliance review;
- independent external review; and
- regulatory examination.
The review should evaluate both:
Design Effectiveness – Are appropriate BCM controls and arrangements defined?
and
Operating Effectiveness – Are those controls actually implemented and working?
For example, requiring that every BCP be tested annually demonstrates design.
Evidence that the exercises occurred, findings were documented, and corrective actions were completed demonstrates operating effectiveness.
Independent Assurance
Independent review provides management with greater confidence that BCM arrangements are not being assessed solely by the individuals responsible for operating them.
Independent assurance may examine:
- governance;
- policy;
- methodology;
- RAR;
- BIA;
- strategy;
- BCPs;
- technology recovery;
- exercises;
- supplier continuity;
- training;
- corrective actions; and
- regulatory alignment.
Findings should be formally tracked to closure.
Management Review
Senior management should periodically review the effectiveness of the BCM program.
The management review should consider:
- BCM performance;
- significant changes;
- major risks;
- BIA status;
- exercise results;
- incidents;
- audit findings;
- regulatory developments;
- supplier concerns;
- corrective actions;
- resource requirements; and
- improvement opportunities.
Management review should result in decisions and actions rather than functioning only as a reporting meeting.
Possible outcomes include:
- approval of additional recovery investment;
- revision of recovery priorities;
- strengthening of supplier requirements;
- changes to exercise frequency;
- additional employee training;
- remediation of technology resilience gaps; or
- changes to BCM governance.
Specific Program Management Requirements for Damanat
For Damanat, the Program Management phase should establish several specific requirements.
Requirement 1 — Maintain BCM Governance
Damanat should maintain clearly assigned BCM ownership, senior management oversight and Business Unit accountability.
Requirement 2 — Maintain Current RAR and BIA Information
Risk assessments and BIAs should be periodically reviewed and updated following material changes to organisational, process, technology, supplier, or location.
Requirement 3 — Maintain Approved Business Continuity Plans
Each relevant Business Unit should have a current, approved and accessible BCP.
Requirement 4 — Maintain Recovery Capability
Recovery arrangements for people, processes, technology, premises, information and critical suppliers should remain capable of meeting approved recovery requirements.
Requirement 5 — Maintain an Exercise Program
Damanat should operate a structured testing program that progresses from component and walkthrough activities to integrated and simulation exercises, as appropriate.
Requirement 6 — Manage Exercise and Incident Findings
Corrective actions should have assigned owners, deadlines, and evidence of escalation and closure.
Requirement 7 — Maintain BCM Competency
Personnel assigned continuity and recovery responsibilities should receive appropriate training and participate in exercises.
Requirement 8 — Maintain Third-Party Resilience Oversight
Critical suppliers supporting priority activities should be assessed for their ability to support Damanat during disruption.
Requirement 9 — Monitor BCM Performance
Management should receive periodic information concerning BCM capability, gaps and overdue actions.
Requirement 10 — Provide Independent Assurance
The BCM program should be subject to appropriate independent review or audit.
Requirement 11 — Maintain Regulatory Traceability
Damanat should maintain evidence demonstrating how applicable regulatory requirements are addressed through BCM policies, processes, plans, exercises and governance.
Requirement 12 — Continually Improve BCM
Lessons from incidents, exercises, audits, reviews and organisational changes should result in measurable improvement.
SAMA Regulatory Considerations
For Damanat, the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Business Continuity Management Framework provides an important regulatory reference for ongoing BCM management.
The framework addresses BCM as a continuing management capability rather than simply requiring organisations to prepare Business Continuity Plans.
Accordingly, Damanat's Program Management arrangements should address areas such as:
- governance and management oversight;
- BCM policy and strategy;
- BIA and risk assessment;
- Business Continuity Planning;
- disaster recovery;
- Testing and Exercising;
- awareness and training;
- document review;
- independent assurance; and
- management reporting.
For implementation purposes, Damanat should maintain a regulatory traceability matrix linking applicable requirements with responsible owners, BCM evidence and review status.
An illustrative structure is:
|
Regulatory Area |
Damanat Program Control |
Evidence |
|
BCM Governance |
BCM Committee |
Terms of reference and minutes |
|
Risk Assessment |
Periodic RAR |
Approved Threat and Risk Register |
|
BIA |
Periodic BIA review |
Approved BIA reports |
|
Business Continuity Planning |
BCP maintenance cycle |
Current approved BCPs |
|
Technology Recovery |
DR program |
DR plans and test results |
|
Testing |
Annual exercise program |
Exercise plans and reports |
|
Training |
Role-based training |
Training records |
|
Supplier Continuity |
Third-party review |
Supplier BCM assessments |
|
Corrective Actions |
Improvement process |
Corrective Action Register |
|
Independent Review |
Internal/external assurance |
Audit or review reports |
|
Management Oversight |
Periodic reporting |
BCM dashboard and management review |
This traceability provides Damanat with an organised evidence base for management assurance and regulatory review.
Annual BCM Program Cycle
A practical annual BCM cycle for Damanat could follow this sequence:
Quarter 1
Review BCM policy, governance, RAR and BIA.
Quarter 2
Review continuity strategies, BCPs and critical supplier arrangements.
Quarter 3
Conduct planned exercises and technology recovery testing.
Quarter 4
Complete corrective actions, assurance review, management review and planning for the following year.
This is illustrative rather than prescriptive. Activities should be scheduled according to Damanat's operational and regulatory requirements.
More importantly, material changes should trigger immediate BCM review rather than waiting for the next annual cycle.
Example: Managing Mortgage Guarantee Origination as an Ongoing BCM Capability
Consider Mortgage Guarantee Origination.
During initial BCM implementation, Damanat may have:
- identified its disruption risks;
- completed the BIA;
- established its RTO, RPO and MBCO;
- selected continuity strategies;
- prepared a BCP; and
- conducted an exercise.
Program Management then ensures that this capability remains effective.
For example:
Change
Damanat introduces a new guarantee processing platform.
Program Management Response
Review:
- RAR;
- technology dependency;
- BIA;
- RPO;
- disaster recovery capability;
- BCP procedures;
- user access;
- supplier dependency; and
- exercise requirements.
Validation
Conduct a component- or integrated-recovery test.
Finding
The new application can be restored within the required RTO, but the external interface requires additional recovery time.
Corrective Action
Improve the interface recovery arrangement.
Re-Test
Validate the complete Mortgage Guarantee Origination recovery chain.
This demonstrates how Program Management keeps BCM aligned with organisational change.
BCM Program Management Deliverables
Damanat should maintain, at minimum:
|
Ref |
Deliverable |
Purpose |
|
PgM-01 |
BCM Program Management Framework |
Defines ongoing management arrangements |
|
PgM-02 |
BCM Governance Structure |
Maintains accountability |
|
PgM-03 |
BCM Annual Program |
Establishes recurring activities |
|
PgM-04 |
RAR Review Schedule |
Maintains threat assessments |
|
PgM-05 |
BIA Review Schedule |
Maintains recovery requirements |
|
PgM-06 |
BCP Maintenance Schedule |
Maintains plan currency |
|
PgM-07 |
Testing and Exercising Program |
Maintains recovery validation |
|
PgM-08 |
Training Program |
Maintains competency |
|
PgM-09 |
Awareness Program |
Maintains organisational awareness |
|
PgM-10 |
Supplier BCM Review |
Maintains third-party assurance |
|
PgM-11 |
Corrective Action Register |
Tracks improvements |
|
PgM-12 |
BCM Performance Dashboard |
Supports management oversight |
|
PgM-13 |
Regulatory Requirements Register |
Maintains compliance traceability |
|
PgM-14 |
Assurance / Audit Reports |
Provides independent assessment |
|
PgM-15 |
Management Review |
Provides senior management oversight |
|
PgM-16 |
Continual Improvement Register |
Documents capability enhancement |
Completion Criteria for Program Management
Unlike earlier BCM phases, Program Management does not have a final completion date.
It represents an ongoing management cycle.
Damanat can, however, assess whether an effective Program Management capability has been established.
This should include confirmation that:
- BCM governance is operating;
- responsibilities remain assigned;
- RARs and BIAs are reviewed;
- BCPs remain current;
- continuity strategies remain viable;
- exercises are conducted according to plan;
- technology recovery is periodically validated;
- employees receive appropriate training;
- BCM awareness activities occur;
- critical suppliers are assessed;
- corrective actions are tracked;
- performance is measured;
- significant issues are escalated;
- independent assurance is conducted;
- senior management reviews BCM performance; and
- lessons learned result in improvements.
The BCM program can then be considered sustained rather than merely implemented.
The BCM Continual Improvement Cycle
The seven-phase methodology should ultimately operate as a continuous lifecycle rather than a linear project.
The initial implementation sequence is:
PM → RAR → BIA → BCS → PD → TE → PgM
Once Program Management has been established, the lifecycle continues:
→ Monitor
→ Review
→ Identify Change
→ Reassess Risk
→ Reassess Business Impact
→ Adjust Strategy
→ Update Plans
→ Exercise
→ Learn
→ Improve
→ Monitor Again
For Damanat, this means BCM is never permanently “finished.”
The organisation should instead seek to maintain an appropriate level of readiness as its operating environment evolves.
Integrating the Seven BCM Phases
The complete Damanat BCM Planning Methodology can now be viewed as an integrated management system.
Phase 1 — Project Management
Question: How will BCM implementation be organised?
Outcome: Governance, scope, responsibilities and implementation plan.
Phase 2 — Risk Analysis and Review
Question: What could disrupt Damanat?
Outcome: Threats, vulnerabilities, controls and residual risks.
Phase 3 — Business Impact Analysis
Question: What must be recovered and how quickly?
Outcome: Recovery priorities, RTO, RPO, MBCO and dependencies.
Phase 4 — Business Continuity Strategy
Question: How will recovery requirements be achieved?
Outcome: Prevention, mitigation and recovery strategies.
Phase 5 — Plan Development
Question: How will the strategy be executed during disruption?
Outcome: Business Continuity Plans and recovery procedures.
Phase 6 — Testing and Exercising
Question: Do the arrangements actually work?
Outcome: Validated capability, lessons learned and corrective actions.
Phase 7 — Program Management
Question: How will Damanat keep the capability effective?
Outcome: Governance, maintenance, assurance and continual improvement.
Together:
Organise → Understand Risk → Understand Impact → Develop Strategy → Document Response → Validate Capability → Sustain and Improve
The Program Management phase completes the implementation framework for Business Continuity Management at The Saudi Mortgage Guarantees Services Company, but it does not represent the end of BCM.
Instead, it marks the transition from establishing BCM capability to sustaining organisational resilience over time.
The earlier phases provide Damanat with the fundamental building blocks:
-
Project Management establishes the implementation framework.
-
Risk Analysis and Review identifies disruption threats and vulnerabilities.
-
Business Impact Analysis establishes recovery priorities and requirements.
-
Business Continuity Strategy determines how those requirements will be achieved.
-
Plan Development translates strategies into actionable procedures.
-
Testing and Exercising demonstrates whether those arrangements can work.
-
Program Management ensures that everything remains current, governed, competent, tested and continually improved.
For Damanat, this final phase is particularly important because mortgage guarantee operations operate within a dynamic ecosystem of business processes, technology, financial institutions, suppliers, regulatory requirements, and operational risks.
A BCP that accurately reflects today's organisation may no longer be appropriate following a significant technology transformation, organisational restructuring, an outsourcing arrangement, or a change in a critical service provider.
Program Management provides the mechanism to identify and respond to those changes.
The objective should therefore be to establish a recurring cycle:
Govern → Maintain → Train → Exercise → Measure → Review → Improve
A mature BCM program should enable Damanat to demonstrate not merely that continuity documentation exists, but that:
- management actively oversees BCM;
- recovery requirements remain current;
- Business Continuity Plans remain accurate;
- employees understand their responsibilities;
- recovery capabilities are regularly exercised;
- critical dependencies are monitored;
- deficiencies are corrected;
- management understands significant residual risks; and
- the BCM program improves in response to change and experience.
Ultimately, the value of Program Management lies in maintaining readiness.
Damanat cannot predict every disruptive event that may occur. It can, however, maintain an organisation that understands its critical activities, recognises its dependencies, prepares appropriate recovery capabilities, exercises those capabilities and systematically learns from experience.
The complete BCM Planning Methodology for Damanat can therefore be summarised as:
PM → RAR → BIA → BCS → PD → TE → PgM → Continual Improvement
The first six phases build and validate the capability.
The seventh phase keeps the capability alive.
Through disciplined Program Management, Business Continuity Management becomes an ongoing organisational capability that supports Damanat's ability to continue priority mortgage guarantee activities, meet stakeholder and regulatory expectations, and respond effectively to significant disruption.
| eBook 2: Implementing Business Continuity Management | ||||
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More Information About Business Continuity Management Courses
To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for BCM-300 Business Continuity Management Implementer [BCM-3] and BCM-5000 Business Continuity Management Expert Implementer [BCM-5]


![[BCM] [Damanat] [Full Banner] Implementing BCM for The Saudi Mortgage Guarantees Services Company](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/221734db-8c33-48bd-8147-fc740eecaf83.png)


![Banner [Summary] [BCM] [E2] [C8] Program Management](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/9ab836f6-9d8f-4673-9d57-5729a3c8d644.png)
![[BCM] [Damanat] [3/4 Banner] Implementing BCM for The Saudi Mortgage Guarantees Services Company](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/0252380a-b2dc-4059-be10-b5566002b711.png)
![[BCM] [Damanat] [E2] [C1] Business Continuity Management Planning Methodology](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/b17b614b-c36c-4437-95ca-5c1d44ac6ce3.png)
![[BCM] [Damanat] [E2] [C2] Project Management](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/4663bc6b-2e85-4e17-b6af-b5c784413b28.png)
![[BCM] [Damanat] [E2] [C3] Risk Analysis and Review](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/5423f27a-6048-40c1-b55c-238fafb59648.png)
![[BCM] [Damanat] [E2] [C4] Business Impact Analysis](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/7a3c1a1f-d7f6-4d5d-8fef-deedc7d91f63.png)
![[BCM] [Damanat] [E2] [C5] Business Continuity Strategy](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/a27d7e1e-8571-421d-9467-cc02614820e1.png)
![[BCM] [Damanat] [E2] [C6] BCM Plan Development](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/ebff27c2-d3e9-4f2c-9a4c-0534e01fa535.png)
![[BCM] [Damanat] [E2] [C7] Testing and Exercising](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/ed03c310-870a-482d-bac6-446897084091.png)
![[BCM] [Damanat] [E2] [C9] Summary](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/dab5bc8f-3d96-444b-880f-78cf037fc906.png)
![[BCM] [Damanat] [E2] [C10] Back Cover](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/351b85f0-d850-4dee-a5c0-55c2b37c3075.png)


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![FAQ [BL-B-3]](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/b3824ba1-7aa1-4eb6-bef8-94f57121c5ae.png)
![Email to Sales Team [BCM Institute]](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3893111/3c53daeb-2836-4843-b0e0-645baee2ab9e.png)





