Business Continuance Planning Ltd
L3, PSA House
11 AuroraTerrace
PO Box 10-613
Wellington
New Zealand
Tel  +64 4 471 2407
Fax +64 4 471 2489
www.bcpl.co.nz

Glossary

Use of risk and continuity terminology requires discernment. Many of the following invite careful consideration as to their real meaning to ensure an adequate focus and scope before adoption by any organisation.
Your feedback would be most welcome.

Business Continuity (BC)…

The management process whereby through careful planning, an organisation deliberately and positively continues to function through a crisis (not merely recover from it) as well as capitalising on opportunities arising through potential and actual crisis events.
[BCPL (1998) - note that this definition pre-dates the introduction of the term 'BCM'.]

Business Continuity Management (BCM)...

Option 1: A holistic management process that provides an organisation with resilience plus capability for effective response and recovery, against threats to its reputation, brand, value-creating activities and overall interests of key stakeholders.
[adapted from BCI (2002)]

Option 2: Provides for the availability of processes and resources in order to ensure the continued achievement of critical objectives.
[HB221:2003, 'Business Continuity Management', Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand (2003)]

[BCM details on earlier page]

Business Continuity Plan...

Option 1: The record of agreed intentions and expectations together with procedures and information to achieve business continuity throughout a crisis.
[BCPL (2001)]

Option 2 (more restrictive in several dimensions): A collection of procedures and information that is developed compiled and maintained in readiness for the use in the event of an emergency or disaster.
[HB221:2003, 'Business Continuity Management', Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand (2003)]

Business Continuity Planning...

An organisation's risk management of threats that may terminate or significantly disrupt core business. It involves mitigation activities and contingency planning for response and recovery actions.
['Resilient New Zealand:- National Civil Defence Emergency Management Strategy 2003 - 2006', Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (2004).
Note that BC Planning provides safeguards against a broad range of threats extending far beyond just civil defence related threats.]

Business Continuity Programme...

The integration of all Business Continuity components including planning, arrangements, practices and processes with which to achieve required business continuity outcomes in compliance with business continuity goals and expectations.
[BCPL (2003)]

[BC Programme details on earlier page]  
   

Corporate Governance...

The set of structures and behaviours by which a company or other business entity is directed and managed. The structures and behaviours guide how the organisation sets its objectives, develops strategies and business plans, monitors and reports on performance, and manages risk.
[New Zealand Securities Commission (2003)]

Crisis Management...

The process by which an organisation manages the wider impacts of a major crisis event/incident to protect key stakeholders' interests.
[adapted from BCI (2002).
Note that 'Crisis Management' incorporates, but is not limited to the management of news media and enterprise communications, to safeguard organisational reputation, image, and/or brand.]

Disaster Recovery Planning...

The planning for strengthening of technology associated with a specific operation, function or process, and the resources and processes that achieve interim and full resumption of the technology following a disruptive incident/event.
[BCPL (2004).
Note that this typically embraces any associated IT functionality but is not limited to the latter.]

Emergency Preparedness / Emergency Management...

The advance planning and preparations to provide adequate response to, and recovery from, potential physical disaster events that cause injury, loss of life, destruction of property or assets, and disruption to organisations and communities.

Risk Management (RM)...

The culture, processes and structures that are directed towards realizing potential opportunities whilst managing adverse effects.
[AS/NZS 4360:2004, 'Risk Management' Standard, Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand (2004)]

Business Continuance Planning Ltd (BCPL) can help you strengthen
your organisation in the short term while at the same time establishing a path towards its future requirements - Please refer to our range of services.

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