Business Continuity and Sustainability Management

Introduction

The course "Business Continuity and Sustainability Management" is designed to address several essential aspects that enhance a business's resilience and sustainability. It focuses on providing theories, tools, and frameworks that will help businesses tackle challenges and adapt effectively to changing business conditions. It explores strategies and approaches that enable businesses to not only withstand disruptions but also operate responsibly in a world increasingly concerned with environmental impact. 

Objective and expectations 

The main objective of this course is to provide students with insights into the challenges and methods for business continuity. This includes developing competence in applying frameworks for identifying, assessing, mitigating, and responding to potential disruptions in various business contexts. Additionally, the course fosters an appreciation of sustainability perspectives and challenges, encompassing key areas such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), environmental responsibility, social governance (ESG), and circular economy principles, all within the context of business continuity management. 

Aspects of business continuity management (BCM) are integral to our study. BCM includes planning, preparation, and mitigation activities that aim to deal with potential threats to a company, reduce vulnerability, and maintain operations after experiencing disturbing circumstances. This knowledge equips students with a holistic understanding of how to safeguard an organization's ability to continue its mission, serve its customers, and protect its reputation when confronted with adverse events or unforeseen challenges. To achieve these objectives, the course combines theoretical concepts with practical examples and interactive learning in-class discussions. This multifaceted approach ensures not only a solid theoretical foundation but also practical skills development, preparing you to effectively manage and ensure the continuity of business operations while embracing principles of sustainability management. 

Course content

This course is organized into three interconnected modules. Each module focuses on key aspects of business continuity and sustainability management while emphasizing their interrelations and practical application.

Module 1: Business Continuity Management (BCM) Framework and Concepts

• Identifying the main components and processes of BCM.
• Exploring methods for developing strategies that protect operations during disruptions and support effective recovery.
• Examining how sustainability principles—such as the SDGs and ESG frameworks—can be incorporated into continuity planning.
• Discussing approaches for integrating environmental and ethical considerations within business continuity practices.

Module 2: Resilience Management

• Conceptualizing resilience in organizational contexts.
• Analyzing how resilience principles strengthen BCM and improve an organization’s capacity to adapt to disruptions.
• Reviewing practical tools and approaches for building resilient systems and organizational culture.

Module 3: Practical Application and Case Study

• Applying BCM and resilience frameworks in a real or simulated organizational scenario.
• Developing and presenting a continuity and sustainability plan addressing a defined disruption.
• Reflecting on the integration of sustainability considerations in continuity strategies and decision-making