Disaster Recovery Journal

How many times have you been told or read that clear concise communication is key during a disaster or threat? Likely countless times - so you know that one of the main elements of any business continuity or disaster recovery plan is communication. This includes clear, concise, efficient communication with your staff, investors, clients, third-party vendors, suppliers and the media.

It used to be that this meant getting on the phone and calling people or sending out a press release. All valid means of communication but in this digital and connected age - the phone and press release really don't cut it. So how in the year 2011 do you get a message out quickly, clearly, and efficiently to all parties who are interested in the status of your organization?

In every company there are decision-makers and decision-influencers. Often it is the decision-influencers who see the need for the service/solution and who work to convince the decision-makers to agree and sign the contract.

So, how does this apply when making decisions about your disaster recovery and business continuity plans? What is the normal process for your organization when making decisions that will have a large impact on the longevity and success of your company?

If your morning routine always began with "L'eggo My Eggo", the great waffle shortage of 2009 probably left you missing that warm buttery and syrupy goodness.  Considering that Eggos account for nearly 70% of frozen waffles, the shortage was treated as nothing less than a national calamity.  With a flooded plant in Atlanta and broken bakery in Tennessee, Americans across the nation were left with empty freezers and a bad taste in their mouths when Kellogg Company was unable to produce some of their favorite breakfast foods.

A recent full-page ad in USA Today (see photo) prompted me to revisit the great waffle shortage of 2009, as it provides such a clear and tasty case for business continuity planning.  Heavy rains in October 2009 kicked-off Eggo's sabbatical from kitchen tables across the country.  One Kellogg spokesperson wrote "We are experiencing temporary Eggo supply constraints caused by a confluence of events [caused by] flooding at our Atlanta facility as well as equipment issues necessitating extensive enhancements and repairs at our largest waffle bakery facility."  As a result, Kellogg's added a banner to the top of their website that stated, "Some of your favorite Eggo products are out of stock nationally. We are working hard to fix this short-term issue".  Little did they know that "short-term" would actually become nine months.

If you currently use Twitter and attended DRJ's Spring World, you're probably familiar with the #drjspring hashtag that connected users throughout the conference.  If not, the following post will bring you up to speed on how you can actively engage with other conference attendees during Fall World 2010.

Did you find a DRJ Fall World 2010 seminar particularly mind-blowing?  #drjfall.  Are you upset because people in the room next door were up all night arguing about PS-PREP?  #drjfall.  Wondering which local bar everyone is heading to at 5:00?  #drjfall.  Now, with one simple "hashtag", participants of DRJ's Fall World 2010 will be able to communicate and network with one another before, during and after one of the largest business continuity and disaster recovery conferences. 

The other day Google reported that someone had looked for articles on "language."

An article I cobbled together a few days more than 4 years ago became a search engine "hit."