Getting Buy-in for Business Continuity

Plans & Activities

We talk all the time about how to get buy-in for business continuity from top management and/or the board, but we also should consider the other stakeholders in the organization. What about getting buy-in from middle management and other staff? And, after you get the support you need, how do you get your project funded? These are some of the questions that this week's articles answer. Perhaps it is time to assess your situation and do some thinking and brainstorming about how to handle these challenges.

What can you do to influence your C-Level team on Business Continuity? (Item #1)     It's time for BC professionals to go the extra mile, reaching out to everyone in the organization. (Item #2)     A company has to be prepared to tackle political fall-out at all levels, so involvement of all levels of management is key in order to fully develop the Business Continuity plan. (Item #3)    

You and your peers might take it for granted that senior management understands the need for disaster avoidance and recovery planning; this is not often the case. (Item #4)     Simulations can force top managers to identify their organization's most important data assets for the first time, as well as consider the potential risks to those assets of cyber attack. (Item #5)     This FEMA video offers advice on how to communicate effectively about business continuity with senior leadership and gain their support. (Item #6)    

As always, I look forward to hearing about your concerns with regard to business continuity. If there are any topics that you'd like to see covered, email me at [email protected].

Bob Mellinger, President
Attainium Corp



1. Eight and One-half Ways to Get Management to See the Light... Before the Power Goes Out!

Often we are contacted by CIOs, HR Directors, and other personnel who want to know how they can get their senior management team to understand the importance of having a business continuity program. Others say that their company's leaders support business continuity, but they think it only concerns the I.T. Department. Therefore, any such plans (and related budgeting) involve only recovery of systems and take little or no account of personnel, processes, or other important business needs. An effective BCP includes all areas in a company and should usually involve a third party that specializes in business continuity.
http://www.biby.com/feature-story-getting-buy-in-business-continuity-program-85-ways-get-management-see-light


2. The Extra Mile

Much has been written about getting "senior management buy in" for business continuity, but what about everyone else? What about middle management? How about the staff, the feet on the street? It's just as important for those people to be involved and informed. And most of the time, we don't do a good job of getting their attention, much less their involvement.
http://www.continuityinsights.com/articles/2010/06/extra-mile


3. What is the Business Continuity Impact of Political Change?

The increased globalization of business today means that there are very few businesses that do not have some kind of dealings on an international basis. For instance, businesses with supply chains across the Middle East will all have built Business Continuity plans that incorporate political instability. There are two distinct layers to the Business Continuity challenge here. Firstly, getting buy-in across the business around political change and its impact. Secondly, there is the knowledge from the business of what processes and systems could be affected by any political upheaval.
http://www.business2community.com/crisis-management/business-continuity-impact-political-change-01051912


4. Check Your Checkpoints: How to Get Business Continuity Projects Funded

In the early days of space exploration, the Mercury astronauts split their time between technical training and public relations--the latter conceived as a way to ensure future funding. The popular mantra was, "No bucks, no Buck Rogers." Translation: There would be no program without funding. Business continuity and disaster recovery planners would be wise to heed this lesson.
http://www.ironmountain.com/Knowledge-Center/Reference-Library/View-by-Document-Type/General-Articles/C/Check-Your-Checkpoints-How-to-Get-Business-Continuity-Projects-Funded.aspx


5. Cyber attack simulation key to get top management buy-in

Investment by top management is cyber security is vital, and plunging them into the middle of a cyber attack is the best way to get their attention, says Marco Gercke, director for the Cybercrime Research Institute. He believes it is vital to get support from the top managers because they are often the targets of attacks aimed at gaining entry to a network. He said they are also not aware of the devastating effects cyber attacks can have on a business and that they do not know their legal and regulatory obligations.
http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240230250/Cyber-attack-simulation-key-to-get-top-management-buy-in


6. "Stepping into their Shoes" - Gaining Senior Leadership Buy-In for Continuity

This video introduces continuity professionals with tools that imparts: 1) the soft skills (leadership communications/understanding) and 2) tailored facts and available resources they need to feel comfortable and knowledgeable enough to frame resonating conversations with senior leadership about continuity and its benefits.
https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/94386


Quote of the Week:

"...but is executive buy-in,
in and of itself, enough?"

-- Nick Johnson
Certified Business Continuity Planner

Contact Us:

Attainium Corp
15110 Gaffney Circle
Gainesville, VA 20155
www.attainium.net