What is the first level of effective Business Continuity Management (BCM)?

The first level of effective Business Continuity Management (BCM) is crisis management. This phase focuses on how an organization responds to an immediate and disruptive event, helping to minimize damages and ensure the safety of employees and stakeholders. It lays the groundwork for all subsequent actions and planning because it addresses the immediate response to crises, ensuring that the organization can stabilize the situation.

The core principles of crisis management involve establishing communication channels, coordinating rescue and recovery efforts, and making immediate decisions that safeguard life and assets. Once the crisis is managed, organizations can then proceed to develop more detailed recovery plans and continuity strategies, ensuring that they can maintain or quickly resume operations after a crisis has been handled.

In contrast, recovery planning relates to the tactical steps taken to restore normal operations post-crisis; continuity planning focuses on preparing the organization for potential disruptions before they occur; and emergency preparedness involves training and exercises that establish readiness for various emergency scenarios. Each of these elements builds on the foundation that crisis management provides, making it the essential starting point in effective BCM.