[BCM] [LKC] [C2] Understanding Your Organisation: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine

    Continuity in Care: Implementing BCM for the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine

Chapter 2

Understanding Your Organisation – Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine

Introduction

The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) plays a critical role in Singapore’s healthcare and education ecosystem, training future medical professionals and conducting groundbreaking research.

The school, a collaboration between Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Imperial College London, integrates advanced medical education, clinical training, and innovative research.

Given its diverse and complex operations, ensuring the continuity of LKCMedicine’s functions is essential to maintaining its contributions to the healthcare sector.

Implementing Business Continuity Management (BCM) at LKCMedicine requires a structured approach aligned with ISO 22301 standards.

A key aspect of this process is understanding the organisation—its core functions, critical operations, key stakeholders, and potential risks.

By identifying these elements, the school can develop a resilience strategy that ensures uninterrupted education, research, and clinical training despite disruptions.

This chapter provides an in-depth analysis of LKCMedicine’s organisational landscape, highlighting its structure, key stakeholders, operating environment, and risk factors.

By comprehensively understanding these aspects, BCM professionals can implement effective continuity measures that protect the school’s mission and objectives.

The insights presented here will be the foundation for developing tailored response strategies to mitigate risks and ensure long-term resilience.

Overview of LKCMedicine

LKCMedicine was established as a collaboration between NTU and Imperial College London to advance medical education and research in Singapore.

The school aims to train future-ready doctors through an innovative curriculum integrating biomedical sciences with clinical practice.

LKCMedicine operates across multiple campuses, including the Clinical Sciences Building at Novena and the Experimental Medicine Building at NTU’s main campus.

Organisational Structure

LKCMedicine’s organisational structure supports its academic, research, and operational functions. Key components include:

• Dean’s Office: Provides strategic leadership and governance.
  
  
• Academic Departments: Comprising medical and research faculty responsible for teaching and innovation.
  
• Administrative & Operations Teams: Supporting student affairs, finance, human resources, and IT.
  
  
• Research Institutes & Laboratories: Conducting pioneering medical research and collaborations.
  
  
• Clinical Partnerships: Work with public hospitals, polyclinics, and research institutions.

Understanding these structural elements is essential to identifying critical functions that must be protected under the BCM framework.

Key Stakeholders

LKCMedicine interacts with a diverse set of stakeholders, all of whom play a vital role in its operations and resilience planning:

• Students and Faculty: Ensuring continuity in medical education and training.
  
  
• Healthcare Institutions: Maintaining clinical training partnerships.
  
  
• Research Collaborators: Sustaining ongoing research projects and funding.
  
  
• Government Agencies (MOH, MOE, NHG, NTU): Ensuring regulatory compliance and support.
  
  
• Support Services Providers: IT, facilities management, and supply chain partners.

Each stakeholder group has specific expectations and dependencies that must be incorporated into BCM strategies.

Operating Environment

LKCMedicine functions within a dynamic environment influenced by external and internal factors:

• Regulatory Requirements: Compliance with healthcare, education, and research standards.
  
  
• Public Health Considerations: Managing risks associated with pandemics and infectious diseases.
  
  
• Technology Integration: Reliance on digital learning platforms and research infrastructure.
  
  
• Physical and Cybersecurity Threats: Ensuring data protection and facility security.

A resilient BCM framework must address these factors to minimize disruptions.

Business Continuity Objectives

Aligning with ISO 22301, LKCMedicine’s BCM objectives include:

• Ensuring Uninterrupted Medical Education: Implementing alternative teaching methods in case of disruptions.
  
  
• Protecting Research Integrity: Safeguarding ongoing studies, data, and funding.
  
  
• Maintaining Clinical Training Programs: Ensuring students can complete required medical training.
  
  
• Ensuring IT and Data Security: Establishing contingency plans for digital learning and research tools.
  
  
• Crisis Response and Recovery Readiness: Preparing for incidents affecting staff, students, and operations.

Risk Analysis and Review (RAR) and Business Impact Analysis (BIA)

A comprehensive risk assessment must be conducted to evaluate threats to LKCMedicine’s critical operations. Key risks include:

• Health Crises (Pandemics, Epidemics)
  
• Cybersecurity Breaches and IT Failures
  
• Supply Chain Disruptions (Medical and Research Supplies)
  
• Natural Disasters and Infrastructure Failures
  
• Regulatory and Compliance Changes

Each identified risk should undergo a Business Impact Analysis (BIA) to determine its potential effects on operations and establish response strategies.

Summing Up…

Understanding LKCMedicine's organisational framework is the first step in developing a robust BCM program.

By mapping its academic, research, and operational functions and identifying key stakeholders and external dependencies, the school can build a resilient structure capable of withstanding disruptions.

Continuity planning must incorporate factors such as regulatory compliance, technological reliance, and public health considerations to protect the school's core functions.

With a well-defined BCM approach, LKCMedicine can safeguard its high-quality medical education and research mission.

The school can maintain operational continuity in crises by proactively addressing risks, implementing contingency plans, and ensuring stakeholder collaboration.

This strategic preparedness will enhance resilience and strengthen LKCMedicine’s role in shaping Singapore’s healthcare landscape.

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 [BCM-3] and the BCM-5000 Business Continuity Management Expert Implementer [BCM-5].

 

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