SBF survey showed 85% of 328 respondents were aware of BCM, but only 50% have a Business Continuity Plan in place
Singapore, Thursday, 25 June 2009 - Amid the increasingly uncertain business climate due to the global recession and the onslaught of the H1N1 pandemic, SMEs were reminded of the need to be Business Continuity Management (BCM) ready to cope with the challenging operating environment. As such, the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) today jointly organised a one-day seminar that featured various industry speakers who apprised companies on various BCM issues.
Around 230 participants from the services, trading, manufacturing, construction, property, banking and finance, transportation and logistics sectors were briefed by experts from business, medical and IT backgrounds on how BCM best practice can help them to be recognised as reliable and sustainable business partners; enhance business reputation & consumer confidence; protect assets & their infrastructure; and help them maintain operations and minimise financial impact during crises.
During his welcome speech, SBF CEO Mr. Teng Theng Dar, noted that while companies?awareness of BCM has picked up since the launch of the National BCM programme in December 2008, more concrete steps by businesses are encouraged. Therefore SBF is collaborating with various associations and chambers to do BCM outreach. Although 85% of the 328 respondents indicated that they were aware of BCM, only 50 per cent have a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) in place according to the findings of an SBF survey conducted in May 2009. Among those with BCP in place, 50 per cent focused only on the recovery from the outbreak of H1N1 and IT-Data Recovery. On the other hand, those who did not have a BCP in place and did not intend to develop one, cited the following reasons: a lack of knowledge and expertise to develop and maintain BCP; too costly to develop & maintain BCP; unaware of BCM; do not see the need; and a lack of management support.
Mr. Teng added, "These findings are a cause for concern especially given Singapore?s encounter with SARS in 2003. With the growing onslaught of flu pandemics such as SARS and H1N1, it is imperative that our businesses understand the potential impact and possible devastation a Flu pandemic can have on businesses and the larger economy. Additionally, companies should note that the threat to business continuity is not limited to a pandemic outbreak. It can come in many forms such as a terrorist attack, natural disaster, break down in critical communication infrastructure and fraud. Therefore businesses should prepare to minimise these threats and know what is required to manage interruptions and keep their operations running."
Mr. Lawrence Leow, President of ASME, said, "As a business owner myself, I understand the troubles and implications that organisations face when they are hit with a crisis and are unable to carry on their day-to-day operations. Therefore, I would like to stress the importance of being well informed and prepared under all circumstances. When a company has in place a robust Business Continuity Management plan, staff, customers and suppliers will be reassured that your business can effectively manage the unexpected and recover quickly from the crisis. This in turn will help to build confidence in your company and enhance your standing in the industry."
Offering the bigger picture on the importance of BCM was an enterprise risk management solutions expert Mr. Marc Ronez, Managing Director, Asian Risk Management Institute. Mr. Ronez told participants that crisis preparedness was the key to the success of companies since crises often take people by surprise and the management has to make crucial decisions within short time constraints. If companies are not well prepared for the crisis, the result could come in the form of panic, poor decisions, and paralysis in the face of a disaster. He observed that SMEs may view BCM as an optional and costly investment; yet he cautioned that people are a critical resource in the current changing and challenging business environment and therefore, SMEs cannot afford to have an absent employee due to a crisis.
SBF's Senior Director, Ms. Rita King outlined the SBF-SPRING Singapore driven National BCM Programme, while National Library Board's Research Associate, Mr. Samuel Sng informed those present about EnterpriseOne Business Information Services (EBIS) - which they can tap on to search on BCM-related materials.
During the panel discussion, SPRING Singapore's Mr. Victor Tay, Director, Services and Biomedical, Industry Development Group, said SMEs can use BCM certification to have a competitive edge to bid for a contract, as this was sighted in a Singapore Economic Development Board-SPRING Singapore Survey with MNCs during the last 10 years. The MNCs have shown preference for Singapore companies that showcase resilience in unpredictable times. Dr. Chng Shih Kiat, Deputy Medical Director, Raffles Hospital, said when it came to fatality; SARS was 15 per cent as compared to H1N1's 0.2 fatality rate. He urged companies to gear up for the worst possible scenario - where the easily transmittable H1N1 may mutate with the fatal H5N1 virus. The other panelists were Mr. Ronez; SBF's Deputy Director Mr. Roland Teo; ASME's Ms. Anne Tay, Head, Member Relations; and IBM's Mr. Stephen Tan, Senior Consultant. Mr. Vijay Magan, Sr. Vice President, BSI Management Systems-India moderated the discussion.
Other speakers at the seminar include IBM's Mr. Tan; Mr. Peter Borup Jakobsen, Director, APAC Collaboration Solutions Marketing, Cisco Systems; Mr. Roland Chan, Senior Director, Business Software Alliance; Ms. Toh Siew Guat, Financial Service Director, AXA Life Insurance; Mr. Wong Tew Kiat, Service Delivery Director, NCS Pte. Ltd.; Mr. Phillip Sy, Member, BC/DR Working Group, Information Technology Standards Committee; and Mr. Ken Loke, Chairperson, Workflow Management Coalition.
The event, which was organised in partnership with AXA, CISCO and IBM, was supported by SPRING Singapore, Business Software Alliance, Information Technology Standards Committee, EBIS, Singapore Chemical Industry Council, Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry & Commerce, Singapore National Employers Federation and Workflow Management Coalition.
It is also part of an on-going outreach programme by SBF, the main driver for the National Business Continuity Management (BCM) Programme, to build awareness on BCM among Singapore companies. So far, this is the third major BCM event on top of another 10 small-scale outreach events organised by the federation this year. To date, SBF received four times more BCM enquiries from companies since the launch of the National BCM programme in December 2008.
For more information on how your company can apply for support, please contact SBF at 6827 6867 or email us at bcm@sbf.org.sg. For more information on SS 540:2008, visit www.singaporestandeshop.sg
About ASME
The Association of Small & Medium Enterprises is a not-for-profit organisation that welcomes all in the entrepreneurial community into its membership. With a wide array of business-centric activities, services and programmes, ASME is well-poised to facilitate the growth and development of a larger pool of SMEs in Singapore.
Pioneered by a group of entrepreneurs in 1986, the Association has grown from strength to strength and remains one of the foremost champions of the Singapore pro-enterprise movement. Today, ASME continues to work closely with both the public and the private sectors to ensure that businesses in Singapore can operate in a conducive and fair environment.
With the entrepreneur and his business in mind, ASME is dedicated to playing a pivotal role in creating a robust business ecosystem that is favourable to the success of SMEs. At ASME, there exists a holistic framework that includes a variety of effective activities and services tailored to meet the needs of members and Singapore SMEs alike.
Members of ASME can rely on the Association to fight for their interests and continue to engage with issues concerning the development of local businesses. By striving towards enhancing the local business landscape, ASME aims to continually reinforce their position as the business association for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs.
中小型企业公会-公会的历史
1986年，在“新加坡第二次工业革命”期间，顺应全国积极创业的浪潮，中小型企业公会（ASME）正式成立。时至今日，随着亚洲在过去十年间的崛起并成为西方经济的有力竞争者，ASME的工作目标也日趋广泛。作为一个以中小型企业为中心的公会，ASME积极开展各项活动，为包括会员在内的所有中小企业进步和发展提供服务。同时，我们也积极创造各种机会，协助中小型企业开拓区域和国际市场。
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