| Is Business Continuity Planning (BCP) something | | | | During a slow economic cycle, you will also have |
| that you need to do during an economic | | | | employees who may not be as busy as they |
| downturn? Or is this a "nice to have" that can be | | | | normally would be. They can now devote more |
| put on the back-burner and looked at when the | | | | time to developing your Business Continuity |
| economy picks-up? | | | | Program. This will help make your program better |
| I am going to argue that now is the time you | | | | for your company. |
| should be developing and implementing a full | | | | During this period, many Business Continuity |
| Business Continuity Plan. | | | | Consultants may have more time available for |
| Many companies cut back on their marketing and | | | | your plan development as well. Many companies |
| spending during tough economic times. The same | | | | do cut back and the consultants are not as busy |
| is true for those projects that they know need | | | | actually developing the actual programs. They |
| to be completed but they have always had other | | | | may be able to develop your program quicker |
| projects with a higher priority to take care of. | | | | than they normally would, which will mean that |
| BCP is one of those projects. As many marketing | | | | your program would be available sooner if it were |
| people will tell you, during tough economic times, | | | | needed. |
| you should increase your marketing, not cut back. | | | | A Business Continuity Plan is not a program that |
| People still need to know you are in business. | | | | can or should be deferred until the "time is right". |
| Companies still need to buy your services; they | | | | The only right time is now to begin developing and |
| still need to find you. | | | | implementing a plan. |
| So why should you consider developing a BCP | | | | Disasters happen at the worse possible time. |
| now? | | | | They do not wait until you or your executives |
| I suggest you take a look at your supply chain. | | | | say that they can respond to the emergency or |
| - Do you have one or two main suppliers of your | | | | disaster event. |
| raw material? | | | | My advice is to start your planning now. When |
| - Do you have one or two customers that | | | | everyone else is experiencing problems, you will |
| provide over 50% of your revenues? | | | | be able to know that you have thought through |
| What would happen if any one of these | | | | your business' primary activities and will know |
| companies went out of business? Could your | | | | how to respond effectively and efficiently to any |
| business survive? | | | | emergency event. |