Unlocking Success: Identifying Critical Business Functions for an Effective Business Continuity Plan (BCP)

Heather Todd • June 12, 2023

In today's rapidly changing and unpredictable business landscape, having a strong and reliable Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is essential for organisations to navigate through unexpected disruptions. A key element of developing an effective BCP is identifying and prioritising critical business functions. These functions are like the lifelines of your organisation, ensuring its survival even in the face of challenges. Let's explore the steps involved in identifying critical business functions and why they are so important for your BCP.

Step 1: Conduct a Business Impact Analysis (BIA)

The first step in identifying critical business functions is to conduct a thorough Business Impact Analysis (BIA). This involves assessing the potential impact of disruptions on various aspects of your business, such as finances, operations, reputation, and compliance. This analysis helps you identify the functions that are vital for the survival and recovery of your organisation. It allows you to prioritise these functions based on their impact and dependencies.


It is important to prioritise these carefully as you want to focus on the ones that matter rather than trying to plan for everything.

Step 2: Define Essential Services and Deliverables

Once you have a clear picture of the potential impact, you need to define the essential services and deliverables that your organisation provides. These are the core offerings that directly contribute to your business objectives and customer satisfaction. By identifying these services, you can pinpoint the functions that are essential for delivering them. For example, if you run a hospitality business, your essential services may include guest accommodation, food and beverage services, and event management. These functions are the backbone of your business, so it's crucial to identify and prioritise them.

Step 3: Analyse Dependencies and Interdependencies

Business functions rarely operate in isolation. They often rely on interconnected processes, systems, and resources. It's important to analyse the dependencies and interdependencies between different functions and identify the potential risks associated with them. This analysis helps you understand how disruptions in one area can impact other functions. For instance, if your sales function relies heavily on your CRM system, a disruption in the system could have a major impact on your sales operations. Identifying these dependencies allows you to develop strategies to mitigate risks and ensure the smooth functioning of critical functions.

Step 4: Engage Key Stakeholders

Identifying critical business functions is a collaborative effort that requires input from key stakeholders across different departments and levels of the organisation. It's important to involve department heads, process owners, and subject matter experts to gain a comprehensive understanding of what functions are crucial to their respective areas. For example, involving your IT department can help uncover critical IT systems and infrastructure required for your organisation's operations. By engaging these stakeholders, you ensure that no vital aspect is overlooked and that everyone's expertise is taken into account.

Step 5: Prioritise Based on Time Sensitivity and Impact

Once you have identified the critical business functions, it's essential to prioritise them based on their time sensitivity and impact on the organisation. Consider how long it would take to restore or recover each function during a disruption and assess the consequences of their unavailability. Functions with higher impact and longer recovery time should be given higher priority in your BCP. For example, if your customer support function plays a crucial role in maintaining customer satisfaction, it should be prioritised over functions with a lower impact.

Step 6: Test and Validate the Identified Functions

Identifying critical business functions is an ongoing process that requires regular testing and validation. Conduct exercises, simulations, or tabletop tests to validate your assumptions and ensure that the identified functions are accurate and up-to-date. For instance, simulate a scenario where a key function is disrupted and evaluate its impact on your organisation's operations. This testing helps uncover any gaps or areas for improvement in your BCP, allowing you to refine your strategies and ensure the resilience of your organisation.


By identifying and safeguarding critical business functions, you build a strong foundation for your BCP. It's about thriving, not just surviving disruptions. Understand your organisation, involve the right people, and prioritise effectively.


Pinpointing and safeguarding these critical functions boost resilience, minimises downtime, and ensures smooth operations during disruptions. In today's dynamic business landscape, adaptability is key for long-term success. Taking proactive measures to protect critical functions positions your organisation for success in our unpredictable world

FAQs

  • Why is it important to identify critical business functions for a BCP?

    Identifying critical business functions is vital for a BCP because it helps you prioritise resources and efforts during disruptions, making sure the most essential parts of your business keep running smoothly. 


    For example, let's say you run an e-commerce business. If your website and order processing system are critical functions, identifying them ensures that even during a disruption, you can continue to receive orders and serve customers.

  • How do I conduct a Business Impact Analysis (BIA)?

    To conduct a Business Impact Analysis, you'll need to assess the potential impact of disruptions on various aspects of your business, such as finances, operations, reputation, and compliance. This involves gathering data, conducting interviews, and analysing dependencies between different functions. Ensure you include the right people, they understand their areas the best.

  • What are essential services and deliverables?

    Essential services and deliverables are the core offerings that directly contribute to your business objectives and customer satisfaction. These are the functions that are absolutely crucial for your organisation's survival and should be given top priority in your BCP. 


    For instance, if you operate a software development company, ensuring that your coding and testing functions continue uninterrupted would be critical for timely project delivery and client satisfaction.

  • How do I identify dependencies and interdependencies between functions?

    To identify dependencies, you'll need to understand how different functions rely on each other. This includes looking at processes, systems, and resources that are interconnected. Let's say you run a retail business. You'll need to examine the interdependencies between inventory management, order fulfilment, and customer support. By mapping these connections, you can determine the critical functions required to maintain a seamless customer experience.

  • How can I involve key stakeholders in the identification process?

    Engage department heads, process owners, and subject matter experts to get their input in identifying critical functions. By involving the right people, you ensure a comprehensive understanding of the key functions in their respective areas.

  • How do I prioritise critical functions in my BCP?

    When prioritising critical functions, consider their time sensitivity and the impact their unavailability would have on your organisation. Functions with a higher impact and longer recovery time should be given higher priority in your BCP. 


    Let's say you run a financial institution. Functions such as customer transactions and data security would be given higher priority due to their immediate impact on client trust, regulatory compliance, and financial stability.

  • How often should critical business functions be reviewed and updated?

    It's important to review and update critical business functions regularly, especially as your organisation evolves and new risks emerge. Incorporate periodic testing and validation exercises to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of your identified functions.

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