A pandemic planning desktop reference for business continuity, emergency management, human resource, risk management, facility management, information technology, and health and safety professionals

The next pandemic virus outbreak could have severe worldwide consequences, causing illness and death for individuals and families, and slowdowns and closures for businesses and corporations.

A method to manage infectious disease pandemics is to use a process known as pandemic planning. The aim is to prevent infectious disease outbreaks, reduce the potential impact and consequences, and continue business in the event of a pandemic.

Pandemic Planning Handbook is a comprehensive text on the topic of pandemic planning. It is written from a business perspective and includes detailed coverage of COVID-19 and 2009 H1N1 pandemics. The primary objectives of the book are to educate readers about infectious disease pandemics and give them the skills to manage pandemic risks and develop comprehensive and effective pandemic plans.

The book presents a cyclical pandemic planning process for developing plans. The process considers the extent of an organization’s knowledge and the understanding of infectious disease pandemics, how the organization manages the associated pandemic risks, development of essential plan components, and the validity and maintenance of plans, and the establishment of a pandemic training program. It is presented in detail in four easy to follow sections:

• Pandemic education and awareness

• Pandemic risk management

• Pandemic plan development

• Pandemic testing, maintenance, and training

A wide range of organizations will benefit from this book including the private sector, government, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and healthcare community. It is intended for pandemic response planners such as business continuity, emergency management, human resource, risk management, facility management, health and safety staff, and anyone interested in preparing for an infectious disease outbreak or pandemic.

An in-depth step-by-step guide to help you develop, test, and maintain your business continuity plan.

The business continuity planning process consists of six key stages:

1. Risk management

2. Business impact analysis

3. Business continuity strategy development

4. Business continuity plan development

5. Business continuity plan testing

6. Business continuity plan maintenance

Although there are many publications that explain business continuity planning, very few provide detailed methods on how to implement it; even fewer cover implementation of all six stages.

Business Continuity Handbook is a single, comprehensive, text that explains the principles of business continuity planning and presents an easy to follow step-by-step methodology to implement its six stages. The methodology considers protection of mission critical business processes, resources, and services. It focuses on key resources such as IT systems and infrastructure, manufacturing and production equipment and products, facilities, work areas, vital records, and critical data. The methodology is consistent with business continuity industry standards, guidelines, and best practices such as CSA Z1600, ISO/IEC 17799, NFPA 1600, COBIT, and DRI International.

This book gives readers the skills to manage risks, conduct a business impact analysis, develop a business continuity strategy, and develop, test, and maintain a business continuity plan. The main body of the book contains chapters structured according to the six business continuity planning stages:

Risk Management

This chapter introduces the key concepts of risk management and describes a framework for managing risks to business continuity. The framework includes steps for risk assessment, risk control options analysis, risk control implementation, risk control decision, and risk reporting. The chapter explains the concepts and implementation of these steps through examples of business continuity risk.

Business Impact Analysis

This chapter describes the steps for conducting a Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and explains the implementation of these steps through an example BIA scenario. The BIA steps include assessment of financial and operational impacts, identification of mission critical business functions and processes, identification of critical IT systems and applications, and determination of recovery requirements. Topics in this chapter include comparison of BIA and risk management; BIA benefits and responsibilities; methods of conducting a BIA; disaster-to-recovery time line and events; elements of the BIA such as Maximum Tolerable Downtime (MTD), Recovery Time Objective (RTO), Recovery Point Objective (RPO), Work Backlog, and Data Loss; summarized findings; and BIA report content.

Business Continuity Strategy Development

The business continuity strategy development framework presented in this chapter is designed to help the reader determine the best strategy that will enable a timely and cost-effective recovery from a potential business disruption. It describes the steps to identify recovery requirements and options, conduct a cost-benefit assessment, and identity and select the most viable recovery options. This chapter also discusses general considerations for developing a business continuity strategy, and provides recommendations for recovery contracts and service level agreements.

Business Continuity Plan Development

This chapter is a guide for developing an effective business continuity plan based on the results of the preceding stages. It explains the detailed structure and content for an effective plan and covers the key plan execution phases: initial response and notification, problem assessment and escalation, disaster declaration, plan implementation logistics, recovery and resumption, and restoration. Numerous examples of plan activities, procedures, and tasks help to explain the content required in the plan. This chapter also addresses the requirements for an emergency response plan and crisis communication plan.

Business Continuity Plan Testing

This chapter introduces the key concepts of business continuity plan testing and provides a framework for developing an effective test plan. The topics include test objectives, test benefits, test methods, test scenarios, test evaluation criteria, and test budget. The framework then explains the sequence of test plan development steps and addresses various issues and concerns that influence the test plan, such as test constraints, strategy, logistics, and risks.

Business Continuity Plan Maintenance
The focus of this chapter is on maintaining the business continuity plan in a constant ready-state. It describes activities needed to ensure that the business continuity plan always remains accurate, current, and complete. Topics covered in this chapter include business continuity plan change management, plan testing, training, and audit.