Question:
Question 9: (Click here to View this Q&A Series)
Is there a rule of thumb that assists in approximating the appropriate size of a BCP Team (project coordinators)? Are there any statistics out there that identify the typical headcount of a BCP department based on organization size?
Answer 1:
Although you might
be able to uncover such indicators, I don't recommend
relying on it as the correct formula for your organization without
additional analysis. The number of staff needed to manage/coordinate/build
a good continuity plan depends on many variables. For example, what
recovery solutions are you putting in place. If you have to recover a
data
center, or computer room, then you will need the participation of all
those
necessary to complete and test that solution, in addition to those required
to address business resumption, facilities restoration, etc. However,
if
all you need is a plan to relocate your business and maybe recover a LAN,
your team will not be as large, although they will still have some
considerable work to do.
Another variable is the complexity and
criticality of the business processes
and services. Some organizations, may be easy to relocate and continue
business. For example a real estate agency, even a large one, should
consider backup and security of documents, recovery of computers and e-mail,
relocation of their offices as well as rerouting of phone lines. This
would
probably require a part time effort of one or two staff. In contrast,
a
smaller specialty brokerage firm, may find building a plan with an
acceptable time frame difficult due to the nature and time criticality
of
its business. Such a company with only say, 50 employees, may need one
fulltime and several part time efforts and/or even some outside consulting
and services including a hot or mirrored site.
To determine the staff or consulting effort
required, you need to determine
the recovery solutions required, and then measure the effort needed to
build
and maintain those solutions. By the time you've done that you should
have
a good idea of the staffing requirements.
Lastly I would add that if you are a large
organization, ensuring that the
BCP team includes everyone necessary to address, all the areas of concern
is
very important. Planning gaps are often due to the right people not being
on the team or teams. Many large organizations form a steering committee
that is charged with among other things, ensuring that all the necessary
business processes and services are addressed appropriately.
Dean A. Izett (CBCP)
The responses reflect the views of the individual EAB member, and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers, the DRJ, or the EAB as a whole.