In Partnership, we will be working with you in a multi-phased programme to develop a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) bespoke to your own Business.

Phase 1

Vulnerability Survey:

This first phase is pivotal to the whole programme. One or more of our Consultants will make a series of visits to your premises and places of work to assess and document operational practice and procedure - across all aspects of the Business - to enable us to identify existing dependencies and establish the minimum requirements for you to continue trading. The resultant report will be published to the Company.

Phase 2

Initial Review Meeting:

Again - a crucially important session, whereby you will be fielding your chosen 'working party' - the management team which we'll be working with to deliver the BCP. It's important that all areas of the business are represented, and that you have the buy-in of all members of the team. We can only succeed with total commitment from the whole Business.

The documented findings from the Vulnerability Survey will drive this meeting. One of the key milestones from this initial meeting will be the allocation of an 'owner' to each of the individual issues raised in the report - in terms of taking each problem on board and investigating a suitable option as a response. An example might be seeking a suitable broker for supply of temporary plant or equipment.

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Phase 3

Project Planning:

Following immediately on from the Review Meeting, our Consultants will document the respective assignments and delegated authorities etc and build a Project Plan to drive the Programme forward. Our Project Management skills (including Formal Structured Methods - our preferred being Prince 2) will be brought to bear to maintain pressure and focus within the team towards the common goals.

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Phase 4

Iterative planning and review meetings:

Not so much a phase in a singleton sense, but a regular review with all, or groups of members from the Working Party to review progress, highlight issues & risks and continue in the fluid process of assimilating results.

This is likely to be an iterative process, until all the salient points from the survey have been ratified - or addressed in part.

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Phase 5

Drafting Of BPC:

Our Consultants will consolidate the assimilated data and information into a Draft Plan. We will also, at this time, be examining the core elements of the plan in terms of how we measure the viability of each element. We will be using this information to formulate a testing strategy. Obviously, the BCP is worthless if it won't work in practice.

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Phase 6

Testing:

Testing of the BCP is critical, and a dry-run of as many of the core elements of the plan as can be realistically achieved is of paramount importance. It's almost inevitable that areas of the BCP will involve, and possibly be dependent upon, third parties. This will yield issues and risks that we will be forced to deal with as effectively as possible. Our testing acceptance criteria will determine where we place our boundaries for success.

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Phase 7

Sign Off:

Once we've completed the Iterative process of Phase's three thru six, we will finally arrive at a point where we can consider our 'fluid' BCP to have reached its first Edition release. The consolidated efforts of KAM and the Working Party will now be reflected in a single point of reference - The Company Business Continuity Plan.

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Phase 8

Change Management:

This last phase represents a closure for the first phase of Consultancy, and the beginning of the real life of the BCP. Any and all of the information in the plan is only as good as it was at time of going to press.

It is imperative that any phone numbers, charges, contacts and relationships are continually monitored and maintained. As new Business Opportunities arise, and new dependencies are established, an equally important contingency provision should be identified and established.

Essentially - the BCP will need a regular programme of review, maintenance and evolution. It is, and will always be, a fluid entity - much as your Business continues to be. You may undertake this programme yourselves, accepting the discipline required, or you may choose to continue the Partnership - allowing KAM to continue providing guidance and support.

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