Research identifies an intrinsic benefit of business continuity planning

A Florida State University researcher has been studying how the development of hurricane preparedness plans affects employee health, wellbeing and willingness to participate at work. The results show an intrinsic benefit of business continuity planning: it is good for employee morale.

Wayne A. Hochwarter, an associate professor of management in FSU’s College of Business, conducted a study one month prior to the 2006 hurricane season in which he asked over 600 employees from a variety of organizations to discuss their organization’s hurricane-preparedness program. He found that more than one-half of employees thought that their organization was prepared and had a plan in place if a hurricane was to hit. Meanwhile, almost 40 percent indicated that their organization would not suffer much down time after a hurricane, and approximately 45 percent knew their role in the disaster recovery and restoration process.

“Oftentimes, companies put plans in place without communicating them to employees, which is largely a waste of time, energy and other resources because employees simply don’t know how they should be implemented,” Hochwarter said. “What was striking in this research was the influence that proactive planning had on worker attitudes and willingness to help on a day-to-day basis.”

The effects of hurricane preparation on employee attitudes were substantial, he noted, including:
• Significantly higher levels of job satisfaction
• Greater willingness to do things beyond what is expected by management
• Perceptions of greater control
• More enthusiasm and a greater willingness to work harder than expected
• More compassion for others
• Greater feelings of support from the organization
• Lower levels of depressed mood at work (i.e., sluggishness, sadness)

“There is a misperception that planning for a hurricane has value only if one hits,” Hochwarter said. “Certainly, nobody wants a hurricane, but I think it’s important for companies to know the benefits to planning beyond simply dealing with the traumatic event.”

He suggested that planning is important because it opens lines of communication, increases employees’ feelings of importance, and builds camaraderie. Involving employees in the process also goes a long way toward reducing the “us versus them” mentality that pervades many organizations, Hochwarter said.

•Date: 22nd August 2006• Region: US/World •Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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