BCP novice? How to expand your ten professional practices knowledge
OK, you drew the shortest straw, or didn’t step backwards fast enough when volunteers were called for and everyone else ran. Or, dare I say it, you’re a glutton for punishment and you VOLUNTEERED for this worthy assignment, relishing the challenge and the opportunity. I fell into the last category in June of 2001. I worked as a business analyst within the information technology department of a Fortune 500 firm. I was looking for a change in responsibilities, and I talked to a potential manager who said they wanted a ‘business recovery coordinator.’ I didn’t know what that was, but, hey, it sounded exciting. Enter me into the complex worlds of disaster recovery and business continuity. It is an industry within industries if you will. Much like risk management or security, all firms (public versus private, big versus small, banking, health care, transportation, education, etc.) can benefit from the fundamentals. Starting historically as “that IT thing” – cutting mainframe data to tapes, sending those tapes offsite, and praying hard they worked when needed to recover that mainframe. Voila, disaster recovery thus started. It later evolved, when companies began seeing that there was more to business continuity than just IT. Business and people must be prepared as well. The outgrowth of business continuity started, and took on much greater importance with events like the first World Trade Center bombing, the Oklahoma City bombing, and of course 9-11-2001. My task involved preparedness for an entire line of business that ran the gamut of opportunity – service providers, outsourced work, internal processing, some plans already well written, other plans already written, other plans lacking. In the fall of 2001, I took the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII) DRP 901 class. And, in January 2002, I received the DRII ‘Associate Business Continuity Planner’ (ABCP) certification. As I studied the ten professional practices in the DRP 901 class, I realised that my ‘day’ job, (while complex, busy and always exciting), didn’t address much beyond one or two practice areas. I aspired for the next level of ‘Certified Business Continuity Planner’ (CBCP), and I decided I couldn’t wait for the job to expand beyond one or two areas. My goal was to seek opportunity and expand my career. Here are some ideas I have found and followed for learning and expanding professionally: 1) Read! I’ve found a wealth of publications to peruse regularly. In the US these have included the Disaster Recovery Journal, Contingency Planning & Management, Continuity Insights. Each of these publications offers online content as well as hard copy. Additionally, online there’s Continuity Central which offers a way to keep up to date with briefing development newsletters. There is also the Disaster Resource Guide, available in print and via the Internet. 2) Network! Join a local industry group. When I couldn’t find one locally, I found some other willing individuals and we started a local chapter of the Association of Contingency Planners (www.acp-international.com). We’re growing, networking, branching out into our respective communities, meeting new people and providing new avenues for professionals to meet one another, learn, and keep in touch. www.drj.com offers a webpage listing all of the groups that they are aware of, and there are many. Your local group may be a chapter of the ACP or it maybe unaffiliated. Regardless, check it out, and attend a meeting as a guest and see if it’s for you. 3) Learn! Attend industry events. Local chapters of industry and related organisations may offer regional events. The three industry publications listed in #1 offer annual and semi-annual conference events. Many of the leading US service providers such as Strohl and SunGard also offer user groups to their clients. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a number of online courses that people can take and become certified through www.fema.gov (I recommend the Incident Command System (ICS) basic overview). Additionally, ask your manager or leadership for stretch assignments – projects within other professional practice areas that you can engage in to expand your knowledge, experience, and capabilities. 4) Do! Get involved. Your local branch of the American Red Cross Emergency Services could always use a few good planners. The American Red Cross also offers a number of classes and education on disaster services. Local schools can also benefit from the efforts of planners. Call the local superintendents and volunteer your services. Even if it’s not an area of your current proficiency, this does not mean that it’s not a possible opportunity. Just preface the conversation by explaining your current skill set, and your need to expand on your skills. And, make sure to outline the benefits of using your services as a win-win situation. Communities (cities, counties, etc.) may also have focus and planning groups that ensure the community is up to task should the need arise. Investigate via your local government what opportunities may be available for you. Best of luck in living and learning! Most of all, have fun. Get engaged, and hit that learning curve with some momentum. And, make sure to enable yourself, (with a full toolbox of business continuity planning experience and knowledge), in order to assist your employer in minimising disruptions to their business, mitigating risks, and continuing to succeed! The DRII ten professional practice areas may be found online at: http://www.drii.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=2 DRII certification information may be found
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•Date:
23rd December 2003 •Region: N.America •Type:
Article •Topic: BC
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