Recognition of Plans: .................................................................................................................................. 3
Company Disaster Preparedness: ......................................................................................................... 3
Conducted by Andy Amalfitano via LinkedIn [1], Sept. 24 – Oct 6, 2009
Abstract
A majority of people polled in a recent online survey demonstrated awareness of business continuity and stated their organizations were doing something about being prepared. Those polled were from a variety of backgrounds, organizations, and disciplines. Small businesses are the most likely not to be prepared, whereas, over 54% of enterprise-level companies are actively engaged and prepared for disasters.
Introduction
During recent learning exercises related to business continuity planning-BCP, I found differing perceptions by some of those in the industry regarding terminology and what's included in a plan. That led me to wonder what awareness level of BCP existed among the people I knew and care about in my professional network. I conducted an online survey via a polling application on LinkedIn [1] using convenience sampling.[2] The population was an audience selected from my professional contacts and none of which state in their profile any connection to the business continuity profession. I narrowed the contact group to 240 contacts by eliminating those people I know are not in business. I queried the selected group of professional regarding their awareness of business continuity plan names and how prepared they thought their companies were for disasters. After five days, I reviewed the data summarized by the polling application, collected the data, and created summary tables for analysis. The purpose of Poll #1 would be to get a general sense of perceived readiness in each person's company or organization. Poll #2 was simply to educate by asking a very simply question which might elicit a common sense response and/or cause people to go look it up or ask about the topic. The Polls were: 1. My company understands risk and likelihood of 'bad things happening' and has a plan to continue business through disruptions. 2. Test your Knowledge: Which of the following is/are critical elements of a Business Continuity Plan? Some respondents commented on the poll questions and although few are germane, they are included in Appendix C.
Response: Since this was the first poll I've conducted in this manner, I did not know what to expect in terms of participation. I would have hoped for a larger number of respondents to the more important question about status of preparedness, however there was only a 6.6% response on that question. For the easier educational type questions the number of respondents was higher at 34%. The validity of this type of poll is often debated as non-scientific, yet there are some who support this approach to get an understanding of a particularly known population. [3]
Recognition of Plans: I share the position with some authors [4] [5] that that all three plans (emergency, crisis, disaster) mentioned in the question are part of a robust business continuity plan. Respondents overwhelming demonstrated an awareness that this was true, whether from common sense, guessing, or possibly looking it up on their own. The results were true across the identity differentiators of company size, respondents' title and function. Interesting, but not surprising, was the people most likely to choose only one or two plans (and not all plans) were from other than the classifications 'owner', 'C-level', and 'management'. The purpose of educating people on the business continuity plan names was accomplished with 87% agreeing that all three plans are part of business continuity planning. See full results for plan recognition poll in Appendix A.
Company Disaster Preparedness: There was a broad response to company preparedness where 52% of respondents said their companies were either actively engaged or absolutely prepared. However, those represented the larger companies. The smaller companies thought either that disaster preparedness is recognized as important or they were not sure where their company was at with such plans. This result does correlates well with other survey statistics on small businesses.
One study published by Symantec of over 1600 companies from several countries found that "Eighty-two percent of respondents [said] they are somewhat/very satisfied with their disaster plans, and a similar number (84 percent) [said] they fell somewhat/very protected in case a disaster strikes." [6]
However, in that same study, Symantec reported that 47 percent of small business did not have a formal disaster preparedness plan [c] vs my study which indicates 56% were unsure or didn't think they were prepared.
In a survey conducted by Office Depot in early 2008, it was found that 40% of small businesses admitted they were not prepared for a disaster and one-third indicated they had no current plans. [7]
See full results for company disaster preparedness poll in Appendix B.
Conclusion This informal study taken non-randomly from business associates intended to help educate and it seems that it did based on the responses. Many more people now know something about the terminology of business continuity. The small businesses seem to be less prepared than enterprise level companies. This may be because of cost, not knowing what to do or where to begin, or the perception that it won't happen to them. The data in my study correlates with other studies on a similar topic of disaster preparedness in businesses.
Appendix A - Poll #1 Statement: “My company understands risk and likelihood of 'bad things happening' and has a plan to continue business through disruptions.” Number of Respondents = 16/240 = 6.6%
Overall Results Choices All
Absolutely, we’re prepared 18%
Yes, we’re actively engaged 25%
Some, it’s important to our business 31%
Not sure, risk=maybe; prepared=?? 25%
Don’t care, ‘it won’t happen here’ <1%
By company size Choices
Small 18%
Large 82%
Absolutely, we’re prepared 22%
Yes, we’re actively engaged 33%
Some, it’s important to our business 50% 44%
Not sure, risk=maybe; prepared=?? 50%
Don’t care, ‘it won’t happen here’
By Job Title Choices
All Other 57%
Management 29%
C-Level, VP 14%
Owner <1%
Absolutely, we’re prepared 13% 25% 50%
Yes, we’re actively engaged 38%
Some, it’s important to our business 25% 50% 50%
Not sure, risk=maybe; prepared=?? 25% 25%
Don’t care, ‘it won’t happen here’ <1%
By Job Function Choices Business
Development 14%
Creative 14%
HR 29%
Product 29%
Sales 14%
Absolutely, we’re prepared 100% 50%
Yes, we’re actively engaged
Some, it’s important to our business 100% 50% 50% 100%
Appendix C - Feedback Survey Comments Poll #2: "Of course, option 'D' would not be included in the "All of the Above" since it directly mentions only 2 specific cases. However, the other 3 are crucial. The Disaster Recovery Plan is probably the least needed -- until you actually need it (then it is definitely the most important)!" "We should be ready for any contingency since it appears obvious that we do a fairly poor job of being prepared for the WHAT IFs... With the current thinking by certain folks in the world, we should be prepared for anything since our entry requirements into the country virtually allows for undesirables to enter. Sad but true."
"My gut reaction was C, but I voted E."
"Interesting. Is this because we all know this or 'All of the Above' sounded like the safest
References: [1 ] LinkedIn. An online professional social networking site. www.linkedin.com [2] "Trochim, William M.K. 2006. "Nonprobability Sampling". Research Methods Knowledge Base. Retrieved 10-07-09 form http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/sampnon.php [3] Taylor, Humphey. 2007."The Case for Publishing (some) Online Polls". 2007 Retrieved 10-07-09 from http://www.pollingreport.com/ht_online.htm [4]Slater, Derek.2009."Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning: The Basics". Retrieved 10-07-09 from http://www.csoonline.com/article/204450/Business_Continuity_and_Disaster_Recovery_Planning_The_Basics#2 [5] Disaster Recovery World. "The Business Continuity Planning & Disaster Recovery Planning Directory". Retrieved 10-07-09 from http://www.disasterrecoveryworld.com/ [6] "Are businesses prepared for disaster recovery, or do they just think they are?".2009. HNS Consulting." Retrieved 10-07-09 from http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=8207 [7] "40 percent of US small businesses not prepared for disasters". 28MAY08.Continuity Central. Retrieved 10-07-09 from http://www.continuitycentral.com/news03951.htm
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