Practical Steps in Business Continuity Planning

December 15, 2010Shared Strategies for Homeland Security

Presented by:William Moorhead, JD

Ginny Schwartzer

Administrative Issues

•Questions

•Participation

•Disagreement

•Collective Experience

Session Goals

•Describe comprehensive business continuity planning.

•Discuss a practical planning process.

Objectives

•Review a common understanding of continuity planning and methods.

•Analyze common hindrances to continuity planning.

•Share best practices for developing and implementing the plan.

Continuity Planning Overview•Contents of the Plan

▫More than IT▫Base plan▫Departmental plans ▫Processes and activities▫Succession ▫Tools▫Contacts▫FEMA COOP template

FEMA COOP

•Essential Functions•Orders of Succession•Delegations of Authority•Alternate Facilities•Continuity of Communications•Vital Records Management•Human Capital•Reconstitution

Continuity Planning Overview•Plan Development

▫Orientation/Buy-In▫Hazard Assessment and Awareness▫Questionnaires ▫Workshops

Continuity Planning Overview•Involved Parties

▫Organization Leaders▫Planning Leader/Point of Contact▫Departmental Leaders▫Employees▫Outside agencies

Challenges

•What are some challenges you faced when conducting continuity planning?

•Why was a continuity planning project frustrating?

Why We Struggle

•Interest▫Employees▫Project Manager

•Support▫Organizational▫Employee▫Partner agency

•Leadership▫Unskilled Leader▫Lack of Leadership

•Coordination▫Internal▫External

•Time

Success Stories

•What have you done to overcome these challenges?

How To Overcome

•Engage Individuals▫Request specific actions

•Limit Time Commitment▫Work in small segments▫Focus on one portion at a time

•Make It Practical▫Utilize the plan regularly▫Plan based on realistic threats

How To Overcome

•Gain Buy-in of Leadership▫Cost/Benefit▫Maximum use of effort▫Feedback mechanism

•Understand Agency Vulnerability▫Employees▫Leadership

How To Overcome

•Select the Project Manager Carefully▫Personality and capability▫Incentives▫Outside consultant

•Manage the Project▫Set goals▫Set and keep deadlines▫Follow-up on goals, deadlines, meetings,

etc.

Practical Considerations

•Departmental Workshops•Real-time Exercise•Focus on Relevant Hazards•Random “Tests”•Employees Training Employees

Practical Considerations

•Agreements•Alternate Facilities•Space Planning•Go-Kits•IT Limitations

Resources

•FEMA COOP Template•FEMA Independent Study Courses•Trade Publications•Continuity Planner Groups

Summary

In business or in football, it takes a lot of unspectacular

preparation to produce spectacular results.”

-- Roger Staubach, Hall of Fame Football Player 

Contact

All Clear Emergency Management Groupwww.AllClearEMG.com

336-802-1800

Will MoorheadWillM@AllClearEMG.com

Ginny SchwartzerGinnyS@AllClearEMG.com