[OR] Key ISO Standards for Understanding Operational Resilience

Key ISO Standards for Understanding OR

Operational resilience is increasingly recognised as a crucial organisational capability. It enables businesses to adapt, respond, and recover from disruptions while maintaining critical operations.

Two essential standards that guide organisations in achieving resilience are ISO 22316, which focuses on organisational resilience, and ISO 22301, which emphasises business continuity management.

This article provides an overview of ISO 22316 and compares it with ISO 22301 to highlight their roles in fostering resilience.

Overview of ISO 22316 and Its Relevance to Operational Resilience

What is ISO 22316?

ISO 22316, the international standard for organisational resilience, provides principles, attributes, and activities to enhance resilience.

Unlike specific operational standards, ISO 22316 adopts a broader approach by addressing organisational culture, strategic alignment, and adaptability to challenges.

Key Principles of ISO 22316

ISO 22316 emphasises:

1. Contextual Understanding: Organisations must understand their internal and external environments, including risks, dependencies, and opportunities.
2. Leadership Commitment: Leadership is critical in setting a resilient vision, providing resources, and fostering a supportive culture.
3. Adaptability and Learning: Building flexibility into processes and encouraging learning from disruptions to improve future responses.
4. Collaboration and Communication: Stakeholder engagement and clear communication during crises are essential for operational success.
5. Integration with Strategy: Resilience initiatives must align with the organisation’s strategic objectives to drive meaningful outcomes.

Relevance to Operational Resilience

Operational resilience focuses on ensuring the continuity of critical business services under stress. ISO 22316 provides the foundation for this by:

• Holistic Approach: Encouraging organisations to look beyond immediate disruptions and build long-term adaptive capacity.
• Cultural Integration: Embedding resilience into organisational culture ensures consistent readiness.
• Strategic Alignment: Linking resilience with broader business goals ensures sustained competitive advantage.

Comparison with ISO 22301

What is ISO 22301?

ISO 22301 is the global business continuity management systems (BCMS) standard. It provides a structured framework for preparing, responding to, and recovering from disruptive incidents to ensure the continuity of essential services.

Focus Areas of ISO 22301

• Risk Analysis and Review (RAR) and Business Impact Analysis (BIA): Identifying critical functions and assessing vulnerabilities.
• Incident Response: Developing plans and procedures to respond effectively to incidents.
• Recovery Planning: Ensuring that disrupted services are restored within acceptable timeframes.
• Testing and Improvement: Regularly test plans and incorporate lessons learned to enhance preparedness.

Comparison: ISO 22316 vs. ISO 22301

Complementary Roles

• ISO 22316 as the Foundation: By fostering a culture of resilience and adaptability, ISO 22316 provides the overarching framework for operational resilience.
• ISO 22301 as the Execution Mechanism: ISO 22301 ensures critical operations remain functional during and after a disruption. Together, these standards provide a comprehensive approach to resilience and continuity.

Summing Up ...

While ISO 22316 fosters a culture of resilience and adaptability across the organisation, ISO 22301 ensures that operational processes are safeguarded during disruptions.

By integrating the principles of both standards, organisations like Marina Bay Sands can ensure the continuity of critical services and adapt and thrive in an ever-changing risk landscape.

Operational resilience, underpinned by these frameworks, strengthens an organisation's ability to anticipate, withstand, respond to, and recover from crises, ensuring sustained success and guest satisfaction.

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