A Business Impact Assessment is a key tool in your operational crisis planning. This year, more than any before, you need to be ready for potential problems.

All of Ireland has been watching the unfolding situation in Dublin Airport over the last few months with a feeling of shock. How do the people in control of huge organisations like that not plan for the future? Everyone could see a surge in travel on its way, most people know that making a huge proportion of your trained staff redundant is not a great idea and the rest of us are just glad that there are other airports in Cork, Shannon, Knock, Kerry, and Belfast.

Of course, this isn’t just an Irish problem, it is a worldwide one, and there is a global chain of calamity at play. We’ve seen flight cancellations in Heathrow, a sea of unshipped baggage in Charles de Gaulle, and endless queues right around Europe. There are mitigating factors around the crisis like the current Covid surge, international staffing, knock-on effects from other airports and more, but it does feel that there is a lesson from all this to be learned for other Irish businesses.

“When you see situations like the one developing in Dublin Airport across the summer it begs the question; have organisations really bought into the need for Business Impact Planning?” asks Aidan Magner, Head of Process Excellence at 3SIXTY. “Now don’t get me wrong sometimes managing risk is like trying to see through the fog of day-to-day business, but the time for planning is now.

“Looking at the developments in Dublin Airport certain questions come to mind. How had they not anticipated the upsurge in traffic as we all emerge from the Covid restrictions and head for sunnier climes? How had they not anticipated that there may be some reaction from staff to pay and working conditions? How did they not have plans in place for the impact on staffing numbers due to lingering Covid infections and finally, how did they not see that these factors combined could lead to chaos if preparations were not in place?”

The combination of the global pandemic, the war in Ukraine and Brexit have seen supply chain chaos, staffing shortages and increased pricing in everything from household goods to building materials. If you’re running a business and haven’t looked to the future to plan for potential hot spots you may be operating on a head in the sand basis. No business can expect to escape from a difficult 2022 completely unscathed without actionable contingencies in place.

“3Sixty has developed a Business Impact Assessment tool that allows organisations to plan, in the now, for potential future crisis,” Aidan says. “These may be both small and large impact and can range from staff losses to flood or fire. The tool allows organisations to run scenarios, plan responses and agree actions. These actions will be assigned to key staff who are responsible for the preparation for, and reaction to, the crisis.”

“By being better prepared we avoid panic, and we are ready to respond and act in a controlled way lessening disruption for staff, customers, and suppliers. In the case of Dublin Airport this approach would have meant a response at the earliest stages that would have helped avoid the shock impacts of the situation. It may not have avoided all outcomes but may have resulted in a smoother period with less disruption to passengers.”

If you would like to receive our BIA Lite tool to help you get started on your planning journey, or if you would like to contact us for a coffee conversation to see how 3SIXTY can support your business please follow this link – https://3sixty.ie/book-a-consultation