The BCM planning methodology or process like any other planning process, provides a framework of requirements, effort and deliverables, each leading into the next "phase" of an continously improvement cycle.  In real life many of these phases may be conducted simultaneously.  While this process does provide visual clues as to the amount of time and changing emphasis within a phase, these are for reference and do not represent an absolute percentage of time.

Origination

This origin of this BCM planning methodology started with the author being tasked with the responsibility to develop and implement a business continuity planning methodology [1] for a international bank headquartered in Europe.  This methodology is subjected to the rigor of both successful global implementation of BC plans for the bank’s 52 franchisees and the highest level of academic scrutiny and examination as part of a Doctor of Philosophy dissertation [2].  As part of the research rigour, this BCM planning methodology is evaluated against 120 other exisitng BCM methodologies.  Since it was published in 1999, this BCM planning methodology has continue to evolve to its current 7-phase approach.  This proven BCM planning methodology had been implemented by many organizations in the Middle-East Asia Pacific and with larges multi national organizations.  Currently, the implementation using this methodology can meet the requirement of all the international BCM standards such as BS25999:2006 [3] and SS540:2008 [4].  In its current proven form and being tried and tested within many organizations, the BCM planning methodology forms the framework for BCM Institute’s training curriculum.

Definition

As defined in BCMPedia [5], the BCM Planning Methodology is the planning process for the implementation of any BC plan. The phases are as follows:

This article has been adapted from BCM Planning Methodology Whitepaper by Dr Goh Moh Heng, PhD, BCCE, DRCE, FBCI, CBCP.
He is the President of BCM Institute and Managing Director of GMH Continuity Architects. For get a copy of the whitepaper, please visit the BCM Institute store.

[1] Goh, Moh Heng (1996) “Developing a Suitable Business Continuity Planning Methodology”, Information Management & Computer Security, MCB Publications, Vol. 4, No 2, 1996, pg 11-13.

[2] Goh, Moh Heng, (1999) “Business Continuity Planning for Banks in Asia: A Case Study in Standard Chartered Bank,” Ph.D. Thesis, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.

[3] BSI (2006) Business Continuity Management. Code of Practice, British Standard Institution, BS 25999-1:2006, 30 November 2006.

[4] SPRING Singapore (2008) Singapore Standard for Business Continuity Management (SS540:2008).

[5] BCM Institute (2008) Business Continuity Management (BCM) and Disaster Recovery (DR) Glossary, 9 Oct 2008, http://www.BCMpedia.org.