ABSTRACT
Business continuity plans do not hold just cosmetic value. They are the key to organizational resilience. Some organizations differentiate the terms exercise and test, but there is no requirement to use these terms in specific circumstances. When a business continuity or a crisis management plan has been formulated, it is beneficial to walkthrough the document informally with those expected to implement it. To establish which scenarios are to be covered by our continuity plan, a workshop can be held involving selected employees from the organization. Communication is the key to the success of the business continuity management system (BCMS). Hence it would be a good strategy to test the crisis communication plan regularly. The crisis communication plan must be documented and exercise standards and guidelines have to be communicated to employees. Tests and exercises are training ground for the BCM teams.
