[BCM] [NYP] [E1] [C6] Composing BCM Team

Chapter 6

What Should the Composition of the Nanyang Polytechnic BCM Team Be?

Introduction

A critical foundation for a successful Business Continuity Management (BCM) program at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) is a clearly defined and well-structured BCM team.

The BCM team serves as the central coordinating body that plans, develops, implements, and maintains continuity strategies to ensure that the institution can continue to operate effectively during disruptions, ranging from IT outages to natural disasters.

The team’s composition should be designed to integrate leadership oversight, operational expertise, risk management, and specialised functional knowledge across NYP’s academic and administrative domains.

A thoughtfully structured team ensures responsibilities are clearly delineated, communication flows efficiently, and decisions are made rapidly and effectively during crises.

Purpose and Objective of the Chapter

The purpose of this chapter, “What Should the Composition of the Nanyang Polytechnic Business Continuity Management Team Be?”, is to guide readers in understanding how to establish an effective BCM team tailored to the unique operational, academic, and administrative needs of Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP).

By clearly defining the team’s structure, roles, and responsibilities, the chapter equips the institution with a framework to coordinate business continuity activities efficiently, ensuring that critical functions can continue or quickly resume during disruptions.

The objective of this chapter is to provide a practical blueprint for identifying leadership, operational representatives, and specialist roles essential for a robust BCM program.

It highlights how a well-composed team facilitates strategic oversight, operational readiness, and risk-informed decision-making, ultimately enhancing NYP’s institutional resilience and safeguarding its educational mission.

1. Leadership and Governance

At the top of the BCM team should be a Senior Executive Sponsor, typically a Vice-President or Director-level officer, who champions business continuity initiatives at the strategic level.

This sponsor provides authority, allocates resources, and ensures BCM aligns with NYP’s institutional objectives and regulatory requirements.

Supporting the sponsor is the BCM Program Manager, who oversees the day-to-day management of the BCM program, including developing policies, coordinating exercises, and liaising with key stakeholders.

Key roles in leadership:

• Senior Executive Sponsor (Vice-President/Director-level) – Ensures executive buy-in and accountability.
• BCM Program Manager – Manages program implementation, strategy development, and team coordination.
• BCM Steering Committee – Comprising senior management representatives from each school, division, and key administrative function to review policies, approve recovery strategies, and monitor BCM maturity.

2. Operational and Functional Representatives

A strong BCM program relies on operational insights from functional areas across NYP. Each school, department, and critical support function should have designated BCM Coordinators or representatives responsible for implementing BCM plans within their units.

These representatives contribute to risk assessments, business impact analyses, and recovery plan development, ensuring that unit-specific operational priorities are addressed.

Proposed functional representatives include:

• IT Services Coordinator – Oversees the continuity of IT infrastructure, learning management systems, and digital services.
• Academic Operations Coordinator – Ensures academic continuity, including course delivery, examinations, and student services.
• Facilities and Security Coordinator – Manages campus safety, access control, and infrastructure resilience.
• Finance and Administration Coordinator – Safeguards financial operations, payroll, procurement, and administrative processes.
• Human Resources Coordinator – Maintains workforce management, staff communication, and emergency staffing plans.
• Communications and Public Relations Coordinator – Coordinates internal and external messaging during disruptions.

3. Specialist Support Roles

Beyond leadership and operational representation, the BCM team should include specialized roles to provide expertise in risk analysis, emergency response, and recovery planning.

These specialists complement operational knowledge and help the team make informed, resilient decisions during incidents.

Key specialist roles may include:

• Risk Management Officer – Identifies, evaluates, and monitors risks that could impact continuity.
• Emergency Response Coordinator – Develops crisis management protocols and leads immediate response during emergencies.
• Legal and Compliance Advisor – Ensures BCM plans adhere to legal obligations, regulatory frameworks, and accreditation requirements.
• External Relations Liaison – Coordinates with government agencies, vendors, and external partners for critical support.

Proposed Structure of the NYP BCM Team

The NYP BCM team can be visualized as a three-tiered structure:

1. Strategic Level – Senior Executive Sponsor and Steering Committee providing governance, policy approval, and strategic oversight.
2. Tactical Level – BCM Program Manager coordinating functional representatives from each school and administrative department, ensuring continuity plans are actionable and up-to-date.
3. Operational and Specialist Level – Functional coordinators and specialist roles executing business impact analyses, risk assessments, recovery strategies, and emergency response actions.

This structure ensures that NYP’s BCM program is integrated, responsive, and adaptive, capable of addressing disruptions at both operational and strategic levels while maintaining the institution’s mission of delivering quality education and services.

This chapter outlines the recommended composition of NYP’s BCM team, emphasizing a three-tiered structure consisting of:

1. Strategic Level – Senior Executive Sponsor and Steering Committee for governance, policy approval, and strategic guidance.
2. Tactical Level – BCM Program Manager coordinating functional representatives from schools and administrative departments to ensure actionable continuity plans.
3. Operational and Specialist Level – Functional coordinators and experts in IT, facilities, human resources, communications, risk, and compliance to execute continuity and recovery measures.

By establishing clearly defined roles and responsibilities, the proposed BCM team structure ensures effective planning, rapid response, and seamless coordination during incidents.

Implementing this framework enables NYP to strengthen institutional resilience, maintain essential operations, and protect the interests of students, staff, and stakeholders during crises.

More Information About Business Continuity Management Courses

To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the BCM-300 Business Continuity Management Implementer [B-3] course and the BCM-5000 Business Continuity Management Expert Implementer [B-5].