[BCM] [MC] [E1] [C6] Developing Business Continuity Management Team

Foundations of Resilience: BCM Essentials for Marymount Centre

Chapter 6

What Should the Composition of Marymount Centre's BCM Team Be?

Proposed Structure Aligned with Organisational Needs

Business Continuity Management (BCM) ensures organisations like Marymount Centre—a community-focused institution providing social, educational, and wellness services—can maintain operations during disruptions.

To build an effective BCM team, its structure must align with the Centre’s existing organisational hierarchy (as inferred from typical community service models) while integrating specialised roles for crisis preparedness.

Below is a proposed structure tailored to Marymount Centre’s operational needs.

Proposed BCM Team Structure

BCM Steering Committee

• Chairperson: Executive Director

  Why: Ensures strategic alignment with organisational goals and provides authority to enforce BCM policies.

• Members: Heads of critical departments (e.g., Operations, IT, HR, Finance, Communications).

  Why: Cross-departmental collaboration addresses all operational risks and recovery priorities holistically.

Organisation BCM Coordinator

• Role: Dedicated BCM Manager or Senior Staff Member

• Responsibilities: Oversees BCM plan development, maintenance, and drills; acts as the central liaison between departments.

Departmental BCM Representatives

• Operations Lead: Focuses on service continuity (e.g., childcare, elder programs).

• IT Lead: Manages data security, system backups, and digital infrastructure recovery.

• HR Lead: Addresses staff safety, remote work protocols, and crisis staffing.

• Finance Lead: Ensures liquidity, fund access, and financial risk mitigation.

• Communications Lead: Manages internal/external messaging during disruptions.

Crisis Management Team (CMT)

• Leader: Deputy Director or Senior Manager

• Members: IT Lead, Communications Lead, Operations Lead.
  Role: Activates during crises to execute immediate response plans and coordinate recovery.

Recovery Teams

• Functional Recovery Units: Department-specific teams (e.g., IT Recovery, Facility Restoration) tasked with resuming critical functions post-incident.

External Liaisons

• Partners: Local authorities, vendors, and cybersecurity experts.

• Role: Facilitate swift resource mobilisation (e.g., emergency supplies, IT support).

Training & Testing Officer

• Role: Conducts regular BCM workshops, simulations, and post-drill reviews.

Integration with Existing Structure

Marymount Centre’s inferred structure (likely led by an Executive Director with departmental heads) ensures the BCM team leverages existing roles to avoid redundancy. For example:

• The IT Head, already managing infrastructure, would lead IT recovery efforts.

• The Communications Head responsible for stakeholder engagement would handle crisis messaging.

Key Considerations

1. Authority & Accountability: The Steering Committee must have decision-making power to allocate resources and enforce compliance.

2. Scenario-Based Planning: Tailor recovery strategies to risks relevant to community centres (e.g., pandemics, IT outages, natural disasters).

3. Regular Drills: Simulate disruptions like facility evacuations or data breaches to test response efficacy.

4. Community Focus: Ensure vulnerable groups (e.g., elderly, children) are prioritized in continuity plans.

Summing Up ...

A layered BCM structure—combining leadership oversight, departmental expertise, and external partnerships—will empower Marymount Centre to navigate crises while upholding its mission.

By embedding BCM roles into its existing framework, the Centre can foster resilience without disrupting daily operations. Regular updates and stakeholder engagement will further solidify its preparedness, ensuring continuity in serving Singapore’s community.

Note: During implementation, a visual hierarchy chart aligning the BCM team with Marymount Centre’s current organizational chart is recommended for optimal clarity.

This chapter is part 1 of the eBook "Blueprint for Resilience: A Step-by-Step BCM Framework for Marymount Centre."   Part 1 of the eBook is titled "Foundations of Resilience: BCM Essentials for Marymount Centre", which provides a comprehensive guide to implementing a BCM system in alignment with ISO 22301