A model to explain a business contingency process

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a model to explain a business contingency process to senior management and other employees in organizations during education or training on business continuity planning.

Design/methodology/approach

The model has been developed and evaluated/tested in three comprehensive cases. Senior management, IT managers and employees in the three case organizations participated in this action research effort during the development, implementation, education or training on business continuity plans and planning.

Findings

The model has been evaluated/tested, and is suitable for explaining what may characterize a business contingency process to senior managements and employees in both public and private sector organizations.

Practical implications

The model can be used for explaining the issues to senior management and to form the fundament for building a business continuity plan which is part of an organization's IT and information security program. It may also be used to explain what a business contingency process is to other staff in an organization. The model can also be used to model parts of business continuity planning, as a basis for training planning, and as support in different training contexts to achieve individual and organizational learning on business continuity plans and activities.

Originality/value

The model is graphically visualized and the concept can be adapted to any organization.

Citation

Lindström, J. (2012), "A model to explain a business contingency process", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 269-281. https://doi.org/10.1108/09653561211220052