Training
are supported by the highest levels of Citi continuity of business programme Live webcasts
management within the organisation. accomplishes.” In addition to the video challenges, the
training and awareness programme hosted
Global awareness initiatives The quality and success live webcasts from executive professionals
No less important than the interactive and in internationally recognised business
extensive training curriculum we provide
of our programme is
continuity organisations. The Disaster
our BCM professionals are the global
awareness initiatives that ensure that all
directly attributed to senior
Recovery Institute International hosted
a webcast on what business continuity
Citi employees appreciate the importance
management’s commitment
management is and why it is important
of BCM planning and understand their to all financial institutions. The Business
individual roles and responsibilities in
to ensuring that business
Continuity Institute also provided a webcast
it. The business continuity awareness on individual and family preparedness.
programme, which is led by the training continuity principles are Both webcasts gave practical advice to the
and awareness programme, represents a general Citi employee on what we can all
vital aspect of BCM training as it ensures
embedded within our
do to prepare for any kind of emergency
that at every level of the organisation
business continuity planning and processes
culture
event and provided an informative forum
for all participants to ask questions and
are kept front of mind. obtain additional reference material.
Each year we host a Global Business The week concluded by recognising
Continuity Awareness Week, during which the exemplary service and dedication of
a series of events at both the corporate and a select group of Citi’s business recovery
local levels are planned and coordinated coordinators from across the globe. This
around a specific theme. This year’s event recognition, bestowed upon Citi BCM
was held in October and was organised professionals by senior management,
around the theme of preparedness both at demonstrated management’s commitment
work and at home. It featured a kick-off to the continued success of our business
video message from Don Callahan, and continuity programme and its global
John Odermatt, managing director of the network of dedicated professionals.
office of business continuity. In this video,
Don and John introduced the week’s events, Committed to training and awareness
reinforced the importance of BCM and its Interactive videos Overall the variety and diversity of activities
professionals at Citi, and encouraged all The following two days focused on the developed for the awareness campaign
employees to participate in the scheduled importance of pandemic preparedness speaks to the commitment the executive
awareness events. Each day, BCM topics and business recovery plans via online management and BCM teams have to the
were announced and summarised via our interactive videos. These video challenges, business continuity training and awareness
corporate-wide communications newsletter like the interactive simulation videos programme at Citi. John Odermatt thanked
and contained links to various activities developed for Citi’s BCM professionals, all of the BCM professionals – including
that were created for all employees to learn were designed to put the general employee the training and awareness programme
more about that topic. in the position of making informed – when he highlighted the dedication
decisions on everyday situations related to our business continuity professionals and
Speeches business continuity planning topics. their importance to Citi stating that: “the
The week began with an event featuring The first video challenge presented a foundation of the business continuity
Commander Kirk Lippold, US Navy (ret). scenario in which an employee came up programme relies upon the effectiveness
Commander Lippold was the commanding against the competing needs of a tight team of the training and awareness programme.
officer of the USS Cole in 2000 when it deadline and a case of swine flu. Providing I am fully committed to the continued
came under attack by terrorists affiliated an interactive platform that put the viewer development of the education programme
with Al Qaeda in the port of Aden, in the position alternately of the employee which ensures Citi’s ability to protect its
Yemen. In his speech, entitled “Leadership getting ill, her manager, and one of her people, facilities, and technologies.”
and Accountability When It Matters,” team members, the video challenged the As we plan for the future, I’m confident
Commander Lippold described the event viewer’s decision-making skills regarding that our senior management, the training
when he and his crew distinguished the proper steps to prepare for the ongoing and awareness programme, and the
themselves by saving the American warship threat of H1N1 and seasonal influenza. business continuity community at Citi will
from sinking and preventing further loss The response to the message and build upon our successes. We will continue
of life. The speech was very well-received, delivery method was overwhelmingly to develop additional, in-depth training
as both Citi employees, and even some of positive: “Got all of the questions correct for our BCM professionals that aligns with
their children in attendance, understood the and really love this awareness programme,” our maturity model and resiliency goals
importance of integrity in teamwork and wrote one of the participants. “This training for business continuity planning and to
being prepared for the future by planning in makes you realise everyday events can provide our organisation a clear, consistent
the now. One audience member wrote the cause disruption of business and that and comprehensive business continuity
following in response to the speaking event: planning helps prevent gaps” wrote another education programme.
“I was literally on the edge of my seat employee who took the second video
throughout Commander Lippold’s talk and challenge on what to do in the event of a
on more than one occasion had tears in my transit strike. Both comments demonstrate
STephanIe JaCkSon CBCI
eyes. It was the most interesting story I have that the overall messages on what to do to
Stephanie Jackson is global training manager
ever heard or read. His main message of stay healthy during the flu season and your for citi’s business continuity programme
being prepared and planning is extremely role in your business recovery plan were
jacksons@citi.com
important and ties closely into what the understood and appreciated.
November/December 2009  Continuity  2
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