Testing, Training & Exercising Your Business Continuity Plan

If, as this week’s quote says, everyone’s IQ in an emergency goes to zero, how can you get around that problem? Well, the answer is the same as the one to the question, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Practice, practice, practice. It’s why schools and other organizations have fire drills... if everyone knows what to do, they are more likely to be able to do it if they have practiced it several times. So don’t forget the critical step of testing your plan and providing some training for your employees. This week’s articles can help shed light on how to do this.

One of the most frequent questions asked when discussing business continuity is: how often should I test my plan? (Item #1) A plan is only as good as its implementation. (Item #2) How can you train your employees within your BC plan? (Item #3)

The objective of a post-development employee awareness training program is to raise the level of awareness of employees' role prior to, during, and after an emergency event. (Item #4) The purpose of DR/BC testing is to achieve organizational acceptance that the business continuity solution satisfies the organization's recovery requirements. (Item #5) While there are numerous disaster recovery plans on the Internet that can be used to structure a recovery effort, what is often overlooked is whether the plan will work when it really has to. (Item #6)

Getting Buy-In

We all know how difficult it is to get management -- and even employees -- to care about programs aimed at preventing anything, even when there are plenty of examples of disasters and terrorism to point to as potential risks. Business continuity is often viewed as a money pit that negatively affects the bottom line. The challenge, therefore, is to get everyone to understand the potential benefits of business continuity and disaster recovery programs. There are some good ideas in this week’s articles.

Use these four tips to gain upper management attention. (Item #1) One of these five methods of securing buy-in might work for you. (Item #2) What do you address when presenting the need for BC/DR investment to management? (Item #3)

Current thinking demands a more integrated participation level by those responsible for leading an organization. (Item #4) In order for any business continuity effort to be positive, employees need to buy into the new system. (Item #5) Here are the root causes for your employees’ lack of interest in business continuity. (Item #6)

Social Media and Business Continuity

Social media has become an essential tool in the lives of people everywhere. It is used in major and minor disasters, as a marketing tool, and in many other ways by businesses and individuals, and its use is growing every year. There are some pitfalls, however, when using this medium, including damage to your organizational reputation. This week we look at the state of social media in business continuity, making and avoiding social media mistakes, and some statistics on social media use that could have you rethinking your use of this tool.

Social media is a powerful tool that can produce desired results when harnessed properly within a strategic plan. (Item #1) If you’re serious about managing your company’s online reputation, then you need to avoid these mistakes. (Item #2) Here are some tips on how to avoid social media mistakes. (Item #3)

Social media crises can happen to the best of brands, but even they don’t always respond in the best manner. (Item #4) Know what the fastest-growing demographic on Twitter is? Or how many new members join LinkedIn every second? The answers will surprise you! (Item #5) Social media is increasingly being integrated into disaster response plans and activities. (Item #6)

Crisis Communication

Crisis communication is a hot topic right now, especially in the wake of the recent disappearance of the Malaysian airliner. The experts are talking about what was wrong with the airline’s crisis communication and how it could have been better. Today, we can almost guarantee that every organization will have to deal with some sort of crisis at some time. For that reason, we think reading this week’s articles could help you prepare for and deal with your eventual crisis.

Emergencies require nearly simultaneous communication activity in all priority response areas; the more promptly actions are taken in response, the more quickly recovery can occur and production of victims can cease. (Item #1) Technology has changed the way crisis communications are handled. (Item #2) The five C’s of crisis communications detail the five attributes that executives and spokespersons must convey during their press conferences and interviews. (Item #3)

Who should speak for your organization in a crisis? (Item #4) Here are nine things to keep in mind while developing your crisis communications plan. (Item #5) The author thought it might be useful to put together a playbook that every leader should have ready for when it hits the fan. (Item #6)

Workplace Violence

The Alliance Against Workplace Violence (AAWPV) will commemorate the month of April, 2014, as Workplace Violence Awareness Month. This will be the third year that a national observance of workplace violence awareness is being held. The organization encourages employers to help raise awareness of violence in the workplace and to take steps to help prevent it from happening in your organization. This week’s articles should help you with that goal and also with creating your own plan for violence prevention.

This useful and practical guide from the FBI is aimed at helping businesses, small and large, and government in implementing a proactive workplace violence prevention strategy. (Item #1) The National Center for Victims of Crime has released new statistics on violence in the workplace. (Item #2) The key to preventing the escalation of workplace violence is to be alert and vigilant to any early signs of conflict. (Item #3)

Workplaces must stay vigilant by enforcing their own workplace human resources/security policies. (Item #4) While policies and raising awareness can't completely insulate any nonprofit from the risk of workplace violence, incorporating some of the recommendations in this article can help. (Item #5) If there has been violence in your workplace, mental health resources are a must. (Item #6)