Business Continuity Strategies

Business leaders in today's post-9/11, post-Katrina world know very well that natural catastrophes, workplace violence, and terrorist attacks can happen. While some level of protection is prudent, trying to anticipate every possible scenario is both costly and impractical. The first step in protecting against unplanned disasters is management's endorsement of a contingency program policy and strategy that restrains development costs while providing reasonable protection for vital facilities and critical operations. In this Third Edition of Business Continuity Strategies, Kenneth Myers-one of the world's foremost innovators in the field of business contingency planning-provides cost-conscious executives with a structured, time-tested blueprint to help companies develop an individualized strategic continuity program. Thoroughly updated throughout, each chapter in this new edition has been carefully revisited to reflect lessons learned from 9/11, as well as from incidents of workplace violence, and hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. Presenting a new contingency program paradigm, this timely book urges boards of directors to take a proactive role in insisting organizations institutionalize policies aimed at preventing workplace violence. The Third Edition documents employer workplace violence liabilities, describes the three stages of conduct prior to a workplace violence incident, and recommends preventive measures and supervisory training for coping with workplace violence incidents. Business Continuity Strategies clearly explains why many existing disaster recovery plans are inordinately detailed and costly to fund and maintain. It also presents a methodology for transitioning to a contingency program that is more cost-effective and realistic. In addition, it describes why Human Resources is the discipline best positioned to develop and administer business contingency programs. This book presents organizations that have multiple locations with a step-by-step template for planning, developing, and administering facility and computer contingency programs consistent in purpose, scope, strategy, and level of detail. It also provides guidelines and controls to contain development costs and to ensure low-cost, interim processing strategies, consistent with the low probability of a disaster. The new edition documents thirty recommendations by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) following an investigation of the collapse of the World Trade Center in New York City. These recommendations for improvement address increased structural integrity, enhanced fire endurance, improved fire resistance, increased fire protection, improved emergency response, and improved evacuation procedures for mobility-impaired building occupants. Few businesses can afford to shut down for an extended period of time, regardless of the cause. If the past few years have taught us anything, it's that disaster can strike in any shape, at any time. Be prepared with Business Continuity Strategies' time-tested framework, and help your company survive the unthinkable.