Making yourself heard
Continuity speaks to Hugh Leighton 
about the skills required for effective 
BCM reporting and discusses the 
value of speaking in a language senior 
management can understand
Ideally, how often should BCM that you are on top of BCM and that you in the process – if they don’t then they will
practitioners be reporting their activities have embedded best practice within your quickly run into problems. It is therefore
to senior management within their
organisation. This could even be part of a important that when speaking to the
organisation?
company’s marketing initiative. sponsor you are using terminology that
they will understand. They must understand
In an organisation where there is a mature Who tends to have ultimate reporting the benefits, the methodologies involved
BCM capability, the business continuity responsibility for BCM practices at senior and their role in the process. It is about
activities should be continuously being
management level? Do these executives
educating them – it is fundamental that
reported to senior management. In terms
tend to have a sufficient understanding
the sponsor understands what they are
of the frequency of the reporting, in clause
of the intricacies of business continuity
sponsoring!
5.2.2 of BS25999-2 it refers to reporting
procedures?
at “planned intervals” – it is up to you to What are the key components which a
decide how often is appropriate. Ideally, I This varies depending on the organisation. BCM report should include? Is there a
would recommend reporting BCM activities Ideally the CEO should be the project
danger of information overload when
on a quarterly basis. sponsor and the reporting line should be
compiling such reports?
However, I think it is important to point to them. One of our largest clients has a
out that reporting should not only be to reporting structure that leads straight to I would say that I am happy with what is
senior management, it should be done to the CEO. The risk manager drives the BCM laid down in BS25999-2 in relation to what
all levels within the organisation. While it process, the business supports them and the key elements are that should be in a
will be necessary to report in a number of I provide external support and we report BCM report. These are the elements that
different ways depending on the level of straight into the CEO. There are of course you should be reporting on if you are going
the organisation you are communicating other parties in the loop, but the reporting for certification under the standard.
to, this is an extremely important part of line is direct to the CEO. In section 5.2 of BS25999-2 – entitled
embedding BCM and needs to be thought While such a set-up is not unusual, it is ‘Review input’ – it states that management
about very seriously. All employees should perhaps more common for someone at the should review their BCMS at planned
have some knowledge of the BCM plans next level of the board. Who the sponsor intervals and when significant changes
within the organisation and also their is normally depends on what has driven occur or where they see opportunities
part within those plans. Of course, the the implementation of BCM good practice. for improvement in both policies and
amount of detail which you include varies If it has been driven by supply chain objectives. In terms of the input itself, it
depending on the level you are dealing with requirements, then you might find that it states that this should include: results of
within the organisation. In some instances, is the operations director; whereas if the BCMS audits and reviews, including key
BCM practitioners can use employee driver was insurance, then it may well be supplier and outsource partners where
news letters as a means of reporting BCM the finance director that takes responsibility. appropriate; feedback from independent
activities. This technique is used quite As I work for an insurance broker, I often interested parties; techniques, products
widely in the public sector. find that the BCM project sponsor is the and procedures which could be used to
Also, if you can report business finance director or the company secretary. improve the BCMS performance; the status
continuity developments successfully not To be honest, if you don’t have that of any preventative actions; the level of
only to those within the organisation, involvement at the senior level then your residual risk and acceptable risk; follow-
but also to other stakeholders such as BCM project is much less likely to succeed. up actions from previous management
e
clients then BCM becomes a USP for your There has to be an acceptance at senior reviews; exercise results; any lessons
company. Your BCM reports can be used level that the project will add value and as learned from incidents and concludes
to allay the concerns of existing clients a result it will need investment. with the results of any educational and
who are concerned about your position In terms of the sponsor’s understanding awareness programmes. In total there are
within their supply chain, but also to of BCM practices, it is down to the project 18 components listed.
s
tockphoto.com/lorrainedark
attract potential customers by illustrating manager to address these issues early on If you are seeking certification, these ©i
3  Continuity  January/February 2010
Cont Jan/Feb 2010_insides.indd 36 3/2/10 14:53:07
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