Faster Disaster Recovery

CHAPTER 7Step 4: Evaluate Operations

Once your data is collected, the next step is to organize it so you can evaluate your company’s operations processes. This makes it easier to create your business continuity plan (BCP). One effective tool for this purpose is a flowchart.

Formal flowcharts can be prepared using software or, simply, by using nothing more than pen and paper. Regardless of the methodology, it should identify each specific process within a department. From there, you will highlight the key steps that absolutely must happen in each one to fulfill its particular functions.

Take the sales department, for example. In order to complete a sale, a critical function would be the sale initiation. After all, if the customer can’t reach you, nothing further will happen.

However, if your sales software was temporarily disabled, an order might still be able to be processed. Yes, it may take a little longer, but this could still be handled by hand. Your flowchart should reflect this.

The flowchart should also identify the person or persons responsible for each function. Look for individuals who are intertwined throughout the process and ask: What would happen if they weren’t available?

When evaluating your company’s operations, think also of individuals outside of the corporation who are critical to the process. One example of this is outside stakeholders.

A disaster will affect more than just your company and its employees. It may also impact your customers, your vendors, ...