BUSINESS continuity plans (BCP) are necessary for managing an unexpected crisis, such as the ongoing Influenza A, so that businesses can operate as usual.
That, however, is not all there is to crisis management, which requires organizations to know how to execute those plans. In Japan, for instance, BCP is viewed in the same light as crisis management.
Said BCMI president Goh Moh Heng: “Arguments over terminology between instructors were common because they don’t speak the same language and they come from different professional and cultural backgrounds.”
Three staff members of the Singapore-based BCMI took six weeks to build its BCMpedia Wiki using the open-source Media Wiki platform. It went line in September last year.
Unlike the popular Wikipedia online encyclopedia, Moh Heng said there are no plans to open BCMpedia up for public editing because the institute lacks the manpower to monitor changes to BCMpedia as well as block potential pranksters. However, anyone can propose changes through an online change request form.
Through the Wiki, BCMI has increased its pool of contributors to include international BCM experts whom Moh Heng found through LinkedIn, a professional social network site.
The solution, BCMpedia, a Wikipedia-inspired information for Business Continuity (BC) and Disaster Recovery (DR) Learning in Portugese. Searching for Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery terminologies in Portugese is no longer a problem! BCMpedia
is always keeping up with times. New updates are uploaded regularly to
ensure the latest information is related to BCM, BCP and DR
Professionals. In addition to terminologies, there are also industry
best practices, definitions from broad spectrum of the industry and a
networking portal for practitioners to input their professional
profiles. Join the community now! http://pt.bcmpedia.org
THE Influenza A (H1N1) risk seems to have abated in recent days, but health experts told human resource officers from local companies yesterday that they should keep their guard up.
The executives from companies large and small were advised to stayvigilant and not assume that the worst cannot happen here, despite the Government lowering the alert from orange to yellow yesterday.
Dr Goh Moh Heng, president of the Singapore-based Business Continuity Management Institute, cautioned that while there are no reported H1N1 cases here, companies must be prepared as the disruption of business is inevitable once there is an outbreak.
"In my opinion, we are going to be hit by a second wave. The question is in what form and how severe it is," Dr Goh told 1,000 executives-mainly human resource staff-from small and medium-sized companies at the seminar at Suntec City.
He urged firms to maintain strict travel restrictions and perform what he calls a "quick impact analysis" on critical business functions if they have not done so.
"Take a position on what is critical and have a close consultation with the leadership on what must be conducted during an outbreak," said Dr Goh.
He urged businesses to "prepare for a long-drawn outbreak and intermittent disruptions", including fatigue, resignations and loss of staff.
The vital necessity to put BCPs in place urgently hasn't sunk in yet.
IN THE past two weeks, the authorities have moved swiftly to minimise the chances of an outbreak of swine flu in Singapore, with two alert level upgrades - then a downgrade yesterday.
Amid the flurry of activity, you would expect every organisation here to have woken up to the need to put business continuity plans (BCPs) in place in case the virus hits.
Of course, most have. But not all are treating the threat so seriously, it would seem.
Contingency consulting firms say there has been an increase in enquiries, but most have come from government agencies and larger firms.
Although a handful of SMEs have shown interest, it would seem the sector is a laggard.
'There is an increasing trend for SMEs, like multinational
corporations, to start to see the benefits of BCP in uncertain times,'
says Control Risk's director of crisis and security consulting in
South-east Asia, Bruce Hayes. 'But in terms of preparedness, SMEs are
lagging MNCs and governments.'
[Singapore, 11 May 2009] Briefing on Influenza A (H1N1-2009) & Business Continuity Management, organized by Singapore Business Federation was held in Singapore on 11 May 2009. More than 1000 members turn up to understand how to prepare their organization for the flu outbreak. Dr Goh Moh Heng , President of BCM Institute, presented on “How to get your BCM plan up to speed for the Influenza A (H1N1-2009)”.
- What is a Pandemic Business Continuity Plan?
- The 6 “R”’s of Business Continuity Execution Stages. (Reduce, Respond, Recover and Resume, Restore and Return)
- Understanding the Pandemic timeline and impacts
- What should you do if you are not Adequately Prepared?
Briefing on Influenza A (H1N1-2009) , Swine Flu & Business Continuity Management
*REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED*
Date: Mon, 11 May 2009 Time: 2 – 5pm Venue: ROCK Auditorium (Beside Eng Wah Cinema / Above Carrefour)
3 Temasek Boulevard, #03-063/065, Suntec City Mall, Tower 4 Fee per pax: Free for SBF Members
As of 3 May 2009, there had been 506 confirmed cases reported in Mexico (with 19 deaths), 160 in the United States (with 1 death) with the recent outbreak of the new strain of Influenza A (H1N1-2009) virus. This virus had also spread to a number of countries including Canada, Germany, Spain, Austria, Israel, Costa Rica, NewZealand, Hong Kong and South Korea.
Although currently there are no cases of Influenza A (H1N1-2009) in Singapore, it is more contagious and patients can be infectious before symptoms appear. Hence, we cannot be complacent or unduly alarmed at the outbreak in Mexico, US and Canada.
The Singapore Business Federation, being the focal point for the National BCM programme is pleased to jointly organise this briefing with the Singapore National Employers Federation. This briefing will update members on the recent Influenza A (H1N1-2009) and how companies should step up its preparedness for the flu outbreak should it manifests itself here.
Key Note Speakers
Influenza A (H1N1-2009) Outbreak – Regional Update & Perspective
by Dr Igno Neu , Regional Advisor and Head of Avian and Human Influenza Unit, United Nations (UNOCHA)
Influenza A (H1N1-2009)
by Dr Arthur Chern, Group Director (Health Regulation), Ministry of Health
How to get your BCM plan up to speed for the Influenza A (H1N1-2009)
by Dr Goh Moh Heng , President, BCM Institute
Organised by
Crisis Simulation for Swine Flu Pandemic Outbreak
Is your organization ready for the Swine Flu Pandemic Outbreak?
Crisis Simulation for Swine Flu Pandemic Outbreak
The
Swine Flu outbreak appears pandemic and it warrants organization should
start to raise their preparedness level. Organizations should review
their pandemic flu crisis management or business continuity plans for
its currency. The key to ensure that the crisis management and business
continuity team are ready, hence, it is important that the team be
exercised as soon as possible.
This tabletop simulation is:
• a simulated role-play exercise to respond as realistically as
possible to a simulated outbreak and involving mobilisation of selected
teams and personnel only
• a communication-based desk-top exercise, focusing on an interactive
discussion with selected teams and individuals against a specific
scenario to test ongoing knowledge and validity of documented processes
Dual Professional Certificate in Business Continuity Management, BCM offered at Temasek Polytechnic!
Jointly
offered by Temasek Polytechnic and the Business Continuity Management Institute
(BCM Institute), the Professional Certificate in Business Continuity Management
aims to equip participants with the fundamental skills and knowledge in
Business Continuity Management. These skills will empower them to assist their
organisations in identifying critical processes; develop effective and efficient
response, business recovery and resumption procedures to ensure the continuity
of these critical processes.
This programme is supported by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF). SBF is
the forerunner in the promotion of the new SS540:2008 standards in Business
Continuity in Singapore.
Last Call for BCM Institute's Public Talk, in Collaboration with SBF & NLB
Implementation of Business Continuity Management with Singapore Standard SS540:2008
*REGISTRATION IS CLOSED*
Date: 23 April 2009 (Thursday)
Time: 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm
Venue: Level 5 Possibility Room, National Library Board Singapore, 100 Victoria Street, Singapore 188064
Cost: FREE
The recent series of crisis and disasters both globally and domestically has reinforced the needs for organization to be prepared for any impending disaster which may strike at any time... READ MORE
Business continuity and disaster recovery news from around the world. Provided by Continuity Central, the international business continuity news and information portal.
[Singapore, 12 May 2009] Business Times.
[Singapore, 11 May 2009] Briefing on Influenza A (H1N1-2009) & Business Continuity Management, organized by Singapore Business Federation was held in Singapore on 11 May 2009. More than 1000 members turn up to understand how to prepare their organization for the flu outbreak. 
As of 3 May 2009, there had been 506 confirmed cases reported in Mexico (with 19 deaths), 160 in the United States (with 1 death) with the recent outbreak of the new strain of Influenza A (H1N1-2009) virus. This virus had also spread to a number of countries including Canada, Germany, Spain, Austria, Israel, Costa Rica, NewZealand, Hong Kong and South Korea.
The
Swine Flu outbreak appears pandemic and it warrants organization should
start to raise their preparedness level. Organizations should review
their pandemic flu crisis management or business continuity plans for
its currency. The key to ensure that the crisis management and business
continuity team are ready, hence, it is important that the team be
exercised as soon as possible.
