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| Making changes... |
March 2010 |
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Greetings!
What a difference a few weeks make!
Only last month, with the reappearance of snow and poor economic forecasts, all seemed gloomy. And yet now, with lower government borrowing and increased business optimism - and much nicer weather with blue skies and sunshine, all seems brighter, if still in need of more power. Time to get the bike out, methinks.
As for this newsletter...a reminder that there is every reason to keep your foot on the accelerator of change. This is the time to regroup and reconsider what you need to do. The overall climate still means an ongoing need to be sure your strategies are appropriate, your business is making progress, and your procedures will not get the attention of the regulators.
So. This newsletter is written to keep you informed, while my 'blog and various 'twitterings' are more current. Perhaps this and they contain some ideas, and keep you amused, too,...
I've also asked those who do want to continue to get the newsletter to opt-in, and allow me to better identify the articles of real interest to you, the readers. |
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| Planning for your future? Why not...
 Spring. A time for renewal, perhaps - and maybe more than just dusting down last year's 'Strategic Plan'. Maybe a time for action...
Some tips, if I may be so bold:
- Have a vision. Without knowing why, it becomes harder to know what, so define your core purpose;
- Have patience. If your business plan is to be around for years, it deserves more than a cursory glance: more like deep thought and iterative hard work;
- Research. Research. Research. Look externally and internally. See what is going on and consider. Avoid 'analysis paralysis' - and don't ignore facts or opinions. Other than your own, in isolation;
- Involve others. Senior people are more engaged if genuinely heard; junior staff are more committed if they feel part of the information chain;
- Look beyond today. The last twelve months or so have been unkind, giving you every reason to scan the economic and market horizons;
- Avoid 'copycat' strategies. Not knowing competitors' internal dynamics makes it dangerous: cannibalising static or shrinking markets more so;
- Make it real. Define your Critical Success Factors - the things which need doing; and your Key Performance Indicators - the action steps that can (and should!) be measured, to determine progress;
- Revisit. It's a fast-paced environment, and yesterday's plans are tomorrow's dust;
- And, inevitably, get an external facilitator to reduce the chances of pre-determining the outcome through existing perceptions or historic decisions.
More thoughts here and further guidance here - and good luck! Remember, if you don't know where you're going, any road can take you. Unless you're already in a cul-de-sac... |
| So. Your organisation isn't interesting to the ICO...
 That's the Information Commissioner's Office, of course - and in the last six months they've made several smaller organisations take note. And pay fines. And costs. And have the MD sign a personal undertaking to become compliant.
What price reputation? If they were your personal data...
I've already mentioned the financial services firm Bellgrange, fined for putting their confidential waste in an open bin, even though it was being picked up the following day... And if you think that was tough, read news of Billing Pharmacy in Bristol being fined because a desktop computer that was stolen had unencrypted personal and sensitive data held on it. What made it worse in the ICO view was that the data wasn't even backed up. Business Continuity, anyone? The MD must have felt his business reputation suffering as he signed the undertaking...
Charities suffer too. Only last month, the Alzheimer's Society got into trouble over a lack of procedures, following a number of offences which caused problems - including losing staff personal details - and for not having their staff understand their own procedures.
So - are you prepared? Effective 6 April 2010, the ICO has more power to fine you, and higher amounts, too. See this blog for my views.
We offer a free Data Protection policy health check - click here and attach yours, today. Alternatively, call about a one day audit which can identify any shortcomings, and suggest changes you can make to get legal. Before you fall victim too... |
Founder's Syndrome
 Perhaps not as painful as it sounds...although it may be more dangerous than you think!
Hot on the heels of my article last month about entrepreneurs needing to evolve leadership styles as their business changes, comes a perhaps controversial article about 'danger signs'.
Perhaps a little polemic, nevertheless some trenchant views on the different things that entrepreneurs who grow their business might need to watch for as they grow their business. As my comments note, those in favour of change sometimes forget that the individual(s) who built the business were savvy enough to make that happen. They need to be part of the journey to change, providing they buy into the emotional as well as rationale story.
Baby and bathwater come to mind...as do previous thoughts, here
For a pragmatic and confidential discussion, you could always call... |
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Disruption, resilience - the 2010 Business Continuity survey
 The Chartered Management Institute this week published the results of its 11th Annual Survey into Business Continuity Management - under the title Disruption and Resilience.
Principal findings are:
- More than 50% of organisations do not have business continuity plans. How are your suppliers fixed? And your customers? If they disappeared...
- Snow affected 93% of businesses, with 50% reporting some or significant disruption - was yours one?
- 79% of those with Business Continuity plans who tested them, agreed they effectively reduced the impact of disruption, yet one-third do not test. Go figure...
- Only 32% of West Midlands business which responded have a BCP. Where are your suppliers based?
There's plenty more in the report - although the above should be reason enough to want to at least think of it as a commercially justifiable requirement. Contact us for a free Business Continuity Health Check or no-obligation discussion.
Business Continuity Awareness Week raises the profile of Business Continuity as a discipline. Worth a look... |
| BSI Affiliate
Oakview are delighted that we've been approved as a BSI Affiliate organisation - part of which means you can buy your BSI standards directly through us.
Try BS 25999 for Business Continuity standards: 
or ISO27001 for Information Security Management: 
And then call us for help in making it happen... | |
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