We often get the question, “How many professionals do other organizations have dedicated to their business continuity/ resiliency program?”…  Makes sense that this question comes up so often.  Those who champion a business continuity/ resiliency program want to ensure they have the proper number of personnel to accomplish their program goals.  Plus, if other “peer” organizations have more personnel it might provide some leverage with the executive committee to also increase their headcount in combination with a defined program management deliverable timeline with headcount associated to each deliverable.  Read BC Management’s data findings below and comment with your thoughts.

BC Management has been collecting data metrics on BCM program management drivers (including dedicated personnel) since 2005.  The 2011 study results (which closed on December 15, 2011) indicated the following below.  Remember to site BC Management when referencing these data findings.

Data Findings:
- A program usually consists of more than just business continuity planning.  In fact, our study showed that the average number of disciplines within an enterprise program is 4.9.  Study respondents choose from a long list of 20+ different disciplines that they personally manage within their program.  The most prevalent disciplines in an enterprise program included Business Continuity Process (Business Focused), Crisis Management, Emergency Management, Pandemic Planning and Disaster Recovery Process (IT Focused).  The more disciplines managed within a program will tend to yield more personnel. 
- 53% of the study respondents indicated having 1+ professional dedicated to their program under their direct management and supervision.
- BC Management’s study reported an average of 11.64 full-time personnel and an average of 24.63 part-time personnel dedicated to the business continuity/ resiliency program. 
- The number of TOTAL PROGRAM personnel (all disciplines managed within the enterprise program) varied between 1 to 350 dedicated professionals.  The number of personnel exclusively dedicated to BUSINESS CONTINUITY PROCESS (BUSINESS FOCUSED) ONLY varied between 1 to 23 professionals.  (This number excludes personnel exclusively dedicated to disaster recovery, crisis management, emergency management, etc).


Important Notations:
*Information noted above consisted of USA based study respondents (1,364 participants).  All study respondents manage a business continuity, IT resiliency, crisis management or emergency management program.  65.13% of the USA based study respondents manage a program that is either national, multi country or global.

*Data findings indicate a CORRELATION with number of dedicated program personnel to the industry, revenues of an organization, number of company personnel, distribution of company (small localized region to global) and maturity of the program.

*The MOST REQUESTED DATA FINDINGS from BC Management regarding dedicated program personnel, program budgeting and other program management drivers are based on a peer assessment.  Peer organizations are defined by a similar industry, revenue band, number of company employees, distribution of company locations and/or maturity of the program.

*BC Management keeps all study respondent information in the strictest of confidence.  We never reveal the company name or personal information behind a study response.  Our reports are an average of the study respondents that meet the criteria of a client’s defined peer assessment.  Questions ? - Contact a BC Management representative.
 


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