The world of standards: order or anarchy?

Area of Science:

• Business Continuity Management
• Organizational Resilience
• International Standards Development

Background:

• The global landscape of business continuity (BC) standards is rapidly expanding.
• This proliferation risks diluting the core benefits and definition of a 'standard' in the BC industry.
• Existing standards face challenges in maintaining consistent quality and benchmarks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the necessity of a singular, international, and certifiable standard for business continuity.
• To contribute to the ongoing discourse and evolution of BC practices globally.
• To address the potential erosion of standard benefits due to diversification.

Main Methods:

• Personal perspective based on practical experience in BC standard development and implementation.
• Analysis of the British Standards Institute's BS25999 Parts 1 and 2.
• Case study of implementing BC standards to certification within an organization.

Main Results:

• The development of BS25999 Parts 1 and 2 provides a foundation for BC standardization.
• Successful certification demonstrates the feasibility and value of adhering to specific BC standards.
• The Business Continuity Institute's global expansion highlights the need for unified international approaches.

Conclusions:

• An international certifiable standard is crucial for the BC industry's integrity and effectiveness.
• Such a standard will help mitigate the risks associated with fragmented and proliferating BC guidelines.
• This approach supports the professionalization and global harmonization of business continuity management.