Industry Q&A
I have noticed that the subject is now being taught in
skill for operational governance which,
many business colleges and universities. This suggests
in turn, should be a subset of corporate
governance.
that a lot of smart young minds are coming into the
Working with others we
profession, so the future looks bright
must develop the body of
Over the next eighteen months we The primary role is to promote and uphold
developed a glossary of terms, a code of the values of the profession in order to gain
knowledge to support our
professional conduct and the standards of and maintain respect for what we do and
arguments and form a base
competence. These were essential steps how we do it.
in setting up; without such things in place Our original vision was to develop a
for future thinking and
we would not have been allowed to call globally-recognised licence to practice. This
ourselves an ‘Institute’ under UK law. In involved defining the basic skills required
development
those early days we worked closely with to deliver effective BCM and working out
the Disaster Recovery Institute on the how to measure or judge them. As numbers What have you learned over your career
scope and content of the standards of grew and the geography expanded we had in the business continuity arena that you
competence. We started off with 14 skills, to move from the peer group interview to an
wish you had known when you entered the
but gradually narrowed them down to examination-based selection system.
discipline?
the current ten. Very little was lost in this From a member’s perspective there was a
refinement process; it was mostly a question need to develop networking opportunities Difficult to say, but I guess it is recognition
of figuring out where to slot in the various so they could get together and share their of the value of experience and the frailty of
elements. ideas, experience and concerns. memory. Too many of us, especially those
Eventually, we were ready to launch At the same time we sought to develop who are the potential beneficiaries of a
and began a series of recorded interviews guidelines and establish independent business continuity approach, seem to set
to demonstrate our suitability to carry out standards, such as BS25999. Once the basic little store by direct experience, yet it is our
membership interviews, at Fellowship definitions were laid down and accepted, most valuable teacher; especially when
level, on behalf of the newly formed we began to think about sharing basic tools confronting the unexpected or the unusual,
Business Continuity Institute. This was and techniques. This has led to various types which is the prime territory of business
followed by a second round in which we of training and education initiatives which continuity management.
were interrogated to prove our worthiness are now being delivered around the world. Frailty of memory is that strange inability,
as the Founding Fellows of the BCI, an or unwillingness, to recall previous
achievement that I am immensely proud of. Moving forward, what do you see as the experiences and the lessons which are there
I have continued to act as the chair in many next steps for the Institute in order to to be learned. It leads to what I describe as
of the Fellowship interviews ever since.
enhance its effectiveness to its members?
‘Ostrich Management’ whereby ostensibly
Apart from acting as the standards officer sensible people seem to believe they will
throughout the development process and Working with others we must develop go unnoticed or untouched when the
for the first few years of the BCI proper, the body of knowledge to support our devil comes riding over the horizon with
I also designed the Phoenix logo which arguments and form a base for future his latest spiteful attack upon our best
formed the BCI seal which is used on all of thinking and development. In the long term, endeavours. If we are wise, we should be
the membership certificates. we should aim for chartered status. This will ready to recognise their presence and take
Altogether, I served for 14 years as a involve BCM being fully recognised and proper precautions against their intrusions.
director before standing down at the 2009 developed as an academic discipline.
e AGM and I remain an active member of the We need to be able to offer all members
JiM BuRtles, FBCi
Risk and Audit Committee. the opportunity to get together with other
Jim Burtles is well-known as a pioneering
like-minded people to share and expand
What would you say is the role of the their knowledge of the subject.
figure within the field of business continuity,
BCI in serving the BCM community and A major target, for me at least, is to see
and one of the founders of the BCi.
how has this role developed since the
BCM properly recognised as both a senior
j.burtles@ntlworld.com
s
tockphoto.com/lorrainedark
©i
organisation was first set up?
management responsibility and a requisite
January/February 2010  Continuity  
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