Worldwide HR consultancy Watson Wyatt identifies business continuity
planning as one of the 10 key e-HR trends for 2002. The following sites are
good starting points for any HR professional charged with assessing risk and
managing in a crisis
DTI
www.dti.gov.uk/mbp/bpgt/m9ba91001/m9ba910011.html
Although the DTI aims much of its business support information on this
website at small- to medium-sized enterprises, it is an equally worthy bookmark
for blue-chip HR professionals with information clearly written and presented.
The above link cuts straight to its section on business continuity and crisis
management which includes notes on management action prepared by London-based
Visor Consultants, as well as clear guides to writing and managing a business
continuity plan.
Global Risk Management Network
An online resource based on information from International Risk Management
and The Review magazines. It offers a free searchable news service, tailored to
specific industries, and downloadable reports, which can be purchased online
and downloaded as Acrobat pdf files. There is also a discussion forum and
extensive links to risk management-related organisations around the world.
Health and Safety Executive
There is information on the subject throughout this site but finding the
bits you want isn’t always easy. The search facility returns literally hundreds
of links, ranked by relevance, but be prepared for a fair amount of clicking.
Using the A-Z index takes you to two useful printable reports (A guide to risk
assessment requirements and five steps to risk assessment) and it also links to
information on the UK Inter-department Liaison Group on Risk Assessment
(UK-ILGRA) – an informal committee of senior policy-makers on risk issues.
Institute of Risk Management
More useful if you’re contemplating a career in risk management or want to
gain qualifications in the area rather than glean general information on the
subject. That said, HR professionals should certainly be familiar with the
institute, which was set up in 1986 to promote the theory and practice of risk
management. You should ensure that any risk management professionals engaged
adhere to the institute’s standards and ethics (the IRM professional mark is
FIRM). There are also useful events listed on the site.
The Scarman Centre
If you’re looking for a qualification in risk management, this is a good
starting point. Named after Lord Scarman, the centre, which is based in
Leicester University, was established in 1988 initially to undertake research,
teaching and professional training in the areas such as public disorder, crime
and punishment. Since then the work of the Centre has expanded and since 2000
has been offering distance learning certificate and diploma courses in risk,
crisis and disaster management. Find out about the courses here, plus further
study opportunities at the centre.
Survive
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Survive was launched in the UK in 1989 and has grown into a global forum for
the exchange of expertise and information for those involved in business
continuity. It has around 3,000 members from senior board-level executives to
dedicated business continuity managers but makes the point that risk and crisis
management responsibilities could fall to a range of people in a company, so HR
practitioners are likely to be among the membership too. Features cover
everything from terrorism to foot and mouth and the fuel crisis.
There is also a searchable vendors’ directory of business continuity and
disaster recovery providers.
