Continuity of Operations:People, Collaboration and Creativity

North Carolina

Digital Government Summit

Todd NicoletSeptember 2, 2009

Session Goals

• Help you participate in leadership related to COOP– Review lexicon and key concepts– Your role

• Explore strategies for providing COOP– Scope– Non-technology needs– Collaborations and partnerships

What Are We Planning For?

The Formal Plan

• Key Resource: FEMA– Tools– Sample Plans– Self-paced Trainings

http://www.fema.gov/government/coop/index.shtm

The Formal Plan

• Essential Functions– What must be done to sustain continued

operations– Focus on essential– Must know the primary purpose(s) of your

entity

The Formal Plan

• Delegations of Authority– Who can act on behalf of an agency– Who has authority to do what

The Formal Plan

• Succession Planning– Who is in charge– Who is in charge after that– Who is in charge next– And after that…

The Formal Plan

• Alternate Facilities– Where will you perform the essential functions– What other options are available

The Formal Plan

• Interoperable Communications– How will people communicate– How will you access data/systems

(This is where IT is often brought in.)

The Formal Plan

• Devolution– “Fail over” to another entity

• Reconstitution– Returning to normal operations

Controlling the Scope

• COOP is just a project plan• Scope is half the battle• Know which disasters/events• Define the extent of disaster/events• Scope controls effort/cost

The Technology Trap

• Finding the right tool to solve the problem

Vs.

• Finding the right process to solve the problem

• Then finding the right technology to serve the process

Knowledge Continuity

• How is the “event” of retirements like more traditional COOP?

• Should it be integrated with disaster/pandemic planning?

The IT Role in COOP

• Spotting risks• Active communication with or participation

in leadership team• Identify and lead collaborations• Identifying and implementing technical

solutions

• Focus on information – we are stewards of information

The Formal Plan

• Is it needed?• How many plans?• Who develops it?• Who is involved in planning and decision-

making?

• What do you do if no formal plan is needed?

Collaborations/Partnerships

Examples

Collaborations/Partnerships

• Recommended practices– Establish why all parties want to partner– Somebody needs to take lead– Get it all in writing

Collaborations/Partnerships

• Models to Consider– Joint contract with external vendor– One unit acting as "vendor" partner– Multiple units providing technical

support

Questions / Discussion