Four phases of business continuity planning (Covid-19 Preparedness)

Peter du ToitI'm the founder of FutureWork IQ where I spend my time assisting businesses to improve their climate literacy so as to understand the projected impacts from the expanding climate crisis and how to adapt their workplaces in the face of these impacts.

The risk of operational disruption as a result of actions taken to contain the spread of Covid-19 is real. Not to have a business continuity plan is risky business and there is nothing worse than squandering time to get ready!

There are four phases to planning for continuity:

1️⃣ Readiness & Preparedness (Pick a POC/czar preferably someone in operations)
2️⃣ Activation (when will plan be activated? For many businesses this will coincide with school closures)
3️⃣ Continuity Operations (eg remote work)
4️⃣ Reconstitution Operations (getting back to normal)

Here is a template that may be beneficial to help you setup a plan.

“The template follows the traditional functional Emergency Operations Plan format detailed in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Preparedness Directorate’s Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101, Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans. By using this planning template, organizations will address each of the planning elements and requirements described in CGC 1 and 2. The template guidance describes recommended content for each section of a continuity plan and includes sample text, tables, and graphics.”