Meet the Experts

Flow Chart for Business Continuity, Threat, and Risk Management
John Glenn, MBCI

Linked to this short landing page is a 3-page PDF file illustrating the flow of a typical threat/risk management/business continuity program.

The difference between a "PROGRAM" and a "PROJECT" is that the former is never-ending; it requires on-going attention (maintenance, exercises) to assure it always is up-to-date, while the latter has a beginning and an end; if it is not maintained as a program, it must be started from scratch each time - in the final analysis, it is the more expensive option; the greater Return On Investment (ROI) comes from the program approach.

A "good" program - or project - includes ALL threats/risks from ALL directions: the typical internal human, technology, and environmental risks to external risks that include both traditional vendors (e.g., utilities, suppliers) but non-traditional vendors (e.g., money lenders, insurance) and non-vendor risks that include - but certainly are not limited to - customers and competition, the economy, politics, local and national, and rumors, among many, many other things.

The related PDF does not attempt to list threats/risks; it merely outlines the typical steps in a survival program.

The third page of the PDF provides a suggested document layout, and identifies what typically is public information versus sensitive information. Making a certain amount of "generic" information available to the world is good business practice, but there is no reason to share information that could help competitors.

The PDF is itself generic; it is intended only as a guide. The task-centric flow chart does NOT tell anyone HOW to accomplish a task; each practitioner needs to tailor his or her approach to the organization for which the work is being performed.

About the Author:
John Glenn, MBCI, has been helping organizations of all types avoid or mitigate risks to their operations since 1994. Comments about this article, or others at http://JohnGlennMBCI.com/ may be sent to Planner@JohnGlennMBCI.com.