January 14, 2009
These NewsBriefs are produced and delivered weekly by
Attainium to keep our friends and clients
current on topics relating to Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery and Crisis Management.
We are all aware of the importance of business continuity planning, and many companies have BC plans in place.
In the current economic climate, however, BC can get pushed to the background as other concerns get attention.
Good planning, however, including risk assessment, can help mitigate some risks of the faltering economy
and perhaps avoid some disasters. The articles below help put BC into perspective in the current global economic situation.
With a good business continuity plan in place, enterprises can overcome all manner of blows.
(Item #1)
How should you seek to manage risk and business continuity in an economic downturn?
(Item #2)
It often escapes companies that disaster preparedness needs may actually be greater during economic slowdowns.
(Item #3)
Economic downturns bring both threats and opportunities to which a resourceful nonprofit can and should respond constructively.
(Item #4)
What's a business continuity plan worth to your company?
(Item #5)
To manage your business effectively during an event, you must be able to "protect and connect" the people
whose work is what actually generates business profits and continuity.
(Item #6)
As always, we look forward to hearing about your concerns
with regards to business continuity. If you have a topic
you'd like to see covered, please email me at
[email protected]
Best Regards,
Bob Mellinger
President
Attainium Corp
Quote of the Week
"It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up."
- Vince Lombardi -
Articles
1. Play IT safe - a guide to business continuity
With global financial markets in meltdown, it is easy for business leaders to become blasé about
other potential disasters: when it already seems that the sky is falling in, what else is there to worry
about? Less panic-stricken leaders, however, recognize the value in contingency planning. After all, in
the face of massive uncertainty, it is the ability to successfully mitigate foreseeable misfortunes that
will allow most businesses to flourish.
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/features/2231260/play-safe-4360728
2. Risk management in hard times
'When the economic tide goes out, you see who's been swimming without any clothes on.'
This single sentence, ascribed to Warren Buffet, contains the core of the argument for organizations
to increase the effectiveness of their risk and business continuity management activity early
in an economic downturn: your customers, running out of money, might unexpectedly behave in a way
that has seriously negative consequences for your own business.
http://principia.vbnlive.com/pooled/articles/BF_WEBART/view.asp?Q=BF_WEBART_305501
3. Companies Shouldn't Cut Disaster Preparedness during Economic Slowdown
During economic downturns, remember to (1) assess the risks to the organization;
(2) pinpoint which programs must be maintained -- and the best approach for them to continue; and
(3) consider the impact of technology changes to disaster plans.
http://www.contingencyplanning.com/articles/59599/
4. Sustaining Nonprofits during Economic Downturns
Squeezed between rising demands and falling resources, nonprofits become unusually vulnerable
to two major classes of surprising, unexpected events. The first class encompasses threats of unanticipated
losses, either from accidents or from unfavorable economic or regulatory events. The second class encompasses
unexpected opportunities for gain, which often bring new uncertainties into a nonprofit's future.
To reach its full potential, a nonprofit must be prepared to grasp opportunities whenever they arise.
http://nonprofitrisk.org/library/articles/strategy09002003.shtml
5. How Much is a Business Continuity Plan Worth?
Suppose we have two identical companies, one with a Business Continuity Plan in place, and one without.
What is the difference in value? If we can answer this question, then we can answer the question
of how much the Business Continuity Plan is worth.
http://www.riskythinking.com/articles/article26.php
6. Business Continuity Planning: The Human Side
In an event of any magnitude, your communications networks may perform flawlessly, and your systems
may be humming with up-to-date information at a remote data center. Data systems, IT infrastructure
and communications are running. From a technology and IT standpoint, you're in business. Or are you?
http://www.usfst.com/currentissue/article.asp?art=269932&issue=199
|
