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"We can't do that; no budget." Sound familiar? If not, the current state of the economy may have you hearing that in response to your requests for all sorts of business continuity awareness, training and certification needs. The articles in this week's edition can help you find ways to overcome such objections by justifying their value and also show you some ways to minimize costs.

Training and awareness programs create value for the entire organization, from your executive board to the general employee population. (Item #1) When the majority of an organization's employees don't buy into the planning process, it results in a plan that is not maintained or tested. (Item #2) This column focuses on developing awareness and training programs internally to create and maintain corporate awareness and enhance the skills required to implement a business continuity management program. (Item #3)

The business continuity certification process is an evolving one, but it's an important professional credential. (Item #4) This white paper analyzes the business case for pursuing organizational business continuity certification, including what it takes to complete the certification process and how best to begin preparing. (Item #5) This DHS Resolve to be Ready toolkit can help your organization prepare for Business Continuity Awareness Week 2009 - and help your readiness in general. (Item #6)

Bonus: If you have ever had a hard time justifying attendance at a trade show or conference, you'll find the DRJ's conference justification kit helpful. (Item #7)

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

"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation... We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."

- Aristotle -

Articles

1. Designing a Business Continuity Training Program to Maximize Value & Minimize Cost
Can management rely on a business continuity program if employees are unaware of their response and recovery strategies? No - and as a result, the time and resources invested in the planning effort are wasted. A properly designed training and awareness program can bridge this gap and it can be developed and implemented in a cost effective and efficient manner.
PDF: http://www.avalution.com/pdf/Training.pdf
View in HTML:
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:SxA94usldmAJ:www.avalution.com/pdf/ Training.pdf+business+continuity+training+and+awareness&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us

2. Developing Business Continuity Awareness
Many business continuity planners have run headlong into the brick wall of apathy when trying to foster awareness in their organization. A lack of commitment from senior executives or a non-existent motivation among plan builders can doom the program to failure from the start.
http://www.recoverychronicles.com/MediaPR/eNewsletter/August2007/570/Article.asp?ID=67&FromNews=false&ArticleID=570

3. Developing Awareness, Training Programs
...Now we come to the post-planning phase of business continuity. These post-planning activities are designed to ensure that organizations have the proper state of readiness to implement a business continuity plan when needed, and that systems are in place to coordinate with external public authorities and other organizations when necessary.
http://www.securitymagazine.com/Articles/Column/fcdc3a35b54d8010VgnVCM100000f932a8c0____

4. The Case for Business Continuity Certification
Why should corporate management underwrite professional certification for its business continuity staff? The reasons, from the perspective of both the corporation and the individual practitioner are valid and bear restating. For the individual, certification is a useful business credential. Certification acknowledges an individual's standing in the profession. It is also a demonstrable recognition of a person's achievement. Professional certification raises the possibility of enhanced career opportunities as a business continuity manager in a company or in a consultancy.
http://www.rothstein.com/articles/contcert.html

5. Is business continuity certification right for your organization?
As the business continuity management discipline continues to mature, more and more standards - and now even organizational certifications - are being introduced or matured world-wide. Organizational certification is a positive development that directly contributes to market differentiation and even previously-unattainable program discipline. However, public and private sector organizations are confused and continue to speculate on if certification is right for them.
http://www.avalution.com/PDF/ Is_Business_Continuity_Certification_Right_for_Your_Organization_An_Avalution_White_Paper.pdf

6. Get ready for Business Continuity Awareness Week 2009
This Department of Homeland Security toolkit can help your organization develop internal and external messages to encourage your members, employees, constituents, customers and community to prepare for emergencies. You will also find Web banners for your organization's Web site, a sample e-mail and a PowerPoint that you can share with your key constituents.
http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/resolve09/resolve_tool_kit_2009.doc

7. How to Justify Attending a Conference
In today's lean economy, many travel and education budgets have been cut. Yet, there is still a great need for training for employees. This justification kit, although prepared for folks to justify their attendance at DRJ's Spring World, can be applied to any show or conference.
http://www.drj.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2427&Itemid=764