Business Continuity Management Course

Lesson 1 • BCM Program Lifecycle Overview

Introduces the end-to-end BCM program lifecycle from initiation through continuous improvement. Sets the roadmap for all subsequent chapters.

Lesson 2 • BCM Roles and Governance Structures

Identifies key BCM roles, ownership accountabilities, and governance models. Establishes how BCM integrates into existing corporate governance.

Lesson 3 • BCM Concepts and Terminology

Defines BCM, resilience, and related disciplines such as disaster recovery and crisis management. Provides the shared vocabulary needed throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • Organizational Drivers for BCM

Examines regulatory, reputational, and operational drivers that compel organizations to invest in BCM. Links business case development to stakeholder expectations.

Lesson 1 • Risk Register Development and Maintenance

Guides creation of a structured risk register that captures threats, ratings, owners, and controls. Establishes a review cadence to keep the register current.

Lesson 2 • Dependency and Single-Point-of-Failure Analysis

Identifies critical dependencies across people, technology, suppliers, and facilities. Reveals single points of failure that require continuity controls.

Lesson 3 • Threat Identification Techniques

Covers structured methods for identifying internal and external threats to business operations. Produces a comprehensive threat inventory as a planning input.

Lesson 4 • Risk Management Principles in BCM

Connects enterprise risk management concepts to BCM-specific risk identification. Establishes risk appetite and tolerance as inputs to continuity planning.

Lesson 1 • BIA Data Collection and Reporting

Covers interview design, survey tools, and workshop facilitation for BIA data gathering. Structures findings into an executive-ready BIA report.

Lesson 2 • Identifying Critical Business Functions

Applies structured criteria to distinguish critical from non-critical functions. Produces a prioritized function inventory that drives recovery planning.

Lesson 3 • BIA Purpose and Methodology

Explains the BIA's role in translating risk into recovery requirements. Introduces the end-to-end BIA methodology and its outputs.

Lesson 4 • Recovery Time and Recovery Point Objectives

Defines RTO and RPO for each critical function based on impact analysis results. Translates business requirements into technical recovery specifications.

Lesson 1 • Facility and Workspace Continuity Strategies

Evaluates alternate site options from hot sites to work-from-home arrangements. Guides selection based on recovery time requirements and cost constraints.

Lesson 2 • Technology and Data Recovery Strategies

Covers IT recovery strategies including backup, replication, and cloud-based failover. Aligns technology options to RPO and RTO requirements from the BIA.

Lesson 3 • Strategy Selection Principles

Establishes criteria for evaluating and selecting continuity strategies against cost, speed, and feasibility. Links strategy choices directly to BIA-derived RTOs and RPOs.

Lesson 4 • Supply Chain and Third-Party Continuity Strategies

Develops strategies to manage supplier disruptions through diversification, stockpiling, and contractual protections. Integrates third-party resilience into the overall strategy.

Lesson 1 • BCP Structure and Components

Defines the standard components of a BCP including scope, activation criteria, and recovery procedures. Establishes a consistent plan architecture for the organization.

Lesson 2 • Operational Recovery Procedures

Documents detailed, step-by-step procedures for recovering critical business functions. Ensures procedures are usable under stress by non-specialist staff.

Lesson 3 • Recovery Team Roles and Responsibilities

Defines recovery team structures, roles, and responsibilities for each phase of a disruption. Clarifies accountability to prevent gaps during activation.

Lesson 4 • Incident Response and Escalation Procedures

Develops step-by-step incident response procedures and escalation pathways for BCM events. Ensures rapid, consistent decision-making during the initial disruption phase.

Lesson 1 • Internal Communication During Disruptions

Designs internal communication flows to keep employees informed and engaged throughout a disruption. Addresses communication when primary channels are unavailable.

Lesson 2 • Stakeholder Identification and Mapping

Identifies all internal and external stakeholders affected by a disruption and maps their communication needs. Prioritizes outreach based on impact and influence.

Lesson 3 • Media and Social Media Management

Equips communicators to manage traditional media and social media during a crisis. Covers spokesperson preparation and real-time monitoring protocols.

Lesson 4 • Crisis Communication Fundamentals

Introduces principles of effective crisis communication including speed, accuracy, and empathy. Establishes communication as a core BCM competency.

Lesson 1 • Functional and Full-Scale Exercises

Covers the design and execution of functional drills and full-scale simulations that activate real resources. Addresses safety, coordination, and realism in live exercises.

Lesson 2 • After-Action Review and Improvement Planning

Structures post-exercise debriefs to capture lessons learned and drive plan improvements. Converts findings into a tracked corrective action plan.

Lesson 3 • Exercise Program Design Principles

Establishes the objectives, types, and frequency of BCM exercises within a multi-year program. Aligns exercise design to identified risks and plan maturity.

Lesson 4 • Technical Recovery Testing

Validates IT and data recovery capabilities through structured technical tests aligned to RPO and RTO. Integrates technical test results into the broader BCM exercise program.

Lesson 1 • Embedding BCM in Organizational Culture

Develops strategies to integrate BCM awareness into daily operations and organizational culture. Sustains program momentum through leadership engagement and staff ownership.

Lesson 2 • BCM Policy and Program Governance

Develops BCM policy statements, governance charters, and accountability frameworks. Embeds BCM governance into existing corporate oversight structures.

Lesson 3 • Maturity Model Assessment and Roadmapping

Applies BCM maturity models to assess current capability and identify improvement priorities. Produces a multi-year BCM maturity roadmap aligned to strategic objectives.

Lesson 4 • BCM Performance Metrics and KPIs

Defines quantitative and qualitative metrics to measure BCM program effectiveness. Enables data-driven reporting to leadership and oversight bodies.