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2022-06-08
Author: Mathilda Jansson
Bio: Mathilda Jansson is a Senior Consultant with extensive expertise in Resilience, Crisis Management and Business Continuity. Mathilda has led several projects for international organizations including the European Central Bank, ASOS, Euroclear, and the Swedish National Emergency Services SOS Alarm, as well as leading the Swedish Leadership delegation to Japan in 2023 to meet with the Japanese Prime Minister and Royal Family. Business Continuity must be embedded in an organization from senior management through to junior level. When it’s part of your processes and your culture, your business will be the benchmark for others to follow.Business Continuity expert Mathilda Jansson explains more and offers three ways to truly embed Business Continuity into your organization.
Successfully embedding Business Continuity
It’s no secret that the companies that have successfully embedded Business Bontinuity into the organization are better equipped to manage disruptions than those that haven’t. Achieving this across the organization, however, is easier said than done.
Imagine an organization where Business Continuity is given the same level of attention as health and safety and staff have the same level of awareness around business continuity as information security. Let’s just say, we’re not there yet…
But, that’s not to say we shouldn’t persevere. There was a time when health and safety and data security were overlooked in organizations, too.
Business Continuity is business critical
Business Continuity is business critical and, as Business Continuity Management (BCM) experts, we must work towards achievable goals as part of the embedding process.
To do this, we have to understand the organization – its dependencies and critical needs – as well as the current Business Continuity capabilities. Importantly, we must also accept that embedding Business Continuity into business-as-usual can only be fully achieved if it’s done on both a practical and a cultural level.
In my role as a consultant, I support many large international organisations headquartered both here in the UK and abroad. Embedding Business Continuity best practice across an organization seems to be a recurring challenge, and one that the 4C team is often asked to support clients with.
“Obviously, there is no silver bullet for this and the ideal method will differ depending on the size, structure and Business Continuity maturity level of an organization.”
Mathilda Jansson, Business Continuity Consultant – 4C Strategies
Build continuity into your organization
If you want to kickstart business continuity or get support to embed it into your organization, we can help. Get in touch today to find out more.
3 ways to embed Business Continuity
As a rule of thumb, success will only be achieved through a collaborative approach to business continuity, and within this, there are three important considerations for any embedding strategy:
1. Ensure senior management buy-in
This can be achieved, for example, through continuous programme briefings and workshops.
If senior management is not fully committed to Business Continuity, there will be times when you feel like you’re swimming against the tide. Involving senior management in the process will give them a better sense of the importance of Business Continuity Management, while bringing potential vulnerabilities that require allocated resources to their attention.
Senior management buy-in will also ensure that Business Continuity is aligned with the organization’s strategic goals and culture as well as being included in any relevant agendas moving forward.
2. Identify and train business continuity champions
Invest time and resources in the teams and individuals who will continue to develop and deliver BCM into the future.
Cultural change takes time and champions will be the drivers of it, with the support of senior management. Giving them the tools to impact change and deliver results will help their and your cause moving forward.
3. Keep it simple
Business Continuity can seem complex for anyone who isn’t already an expert.
If you strive to present BCM in a language that the organization understands – one that is fit for purpose and not full of business continuity lingo – you remove the complexity and make it more approachable.
Successfully embedding business continuity is about understanding the organisation and its BCM maturity, and as such, adjusting the level of ambition and priorities accordingly.
Building BCM with energy-giant Uniper
Learn how 4C created and implemented an ISO22301 standardised Business Continuity Management methodology with international energy provider Uniper.
Reap the benefits of organization-wide Business Continuity Management
If you can implement these simple but effective tips, embedding Business Continuity will become easier and its advantages greater. These benefits include fewer escalating incidents and improved responses to disruptions. In turn, this generates cost-savings and improved confidence in the organization by all stakeholders.Short on time? Watch the video for the quick summary from Mathilda Jansson
