In 2024, the Business Continuity Institute (BCI) has delivered a significant programme aimed at enhancing resilience and providing invaluable support to business continuity and resilience practitioners. Through a series of research initiatives, exclusive content, and timely industry updates, the BCI has sought to equip its members with essential insights to navigate a fluctuating resilience landscape.
The BCI's Thought Leadership team has spearheaded an industry-leading research programme, producing ten original reports that draw from both qualitative and quantitative data. These reports, which also incorporate secondary data sources, have been designed to provide actionable insights and predictions to help businesses prepare for the future. The reports generated throughout the year examined critical topics such as Crisis Communications, Operational Resilience, and Horizon Scanning, all of which received considerable attention from the community. In preparation for these reports, nearly 90 practitioners were interviewed to identify emerging trends and challenges, enhancing the relevance and applicability of the findings.
In addition to research reports, the BCI has developed a variety of exclusive content exclusively for its members. This has included a series of white papers and in-depth articles covering a range of topics critical to business continuity professionals. Among this year's highlighted subjects were the global switch-off of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), public sector water threats, election management challenges, and the risks associated with deepfake technology.
To keep the resilience community informed, the BCI also produced a continuous stream of weekly news updates throughout 2024. This coverage encompassed key issues within the industry, with notable topics including cyberattacks, IT disruptions, emerging legislation, and the ongoing impacts of climate change. This timely dissemination of information has helped practitioners stay abreast of developments affecting their fields.
The BCI has also committed to elevating regional voices by collaborating closely with 39 Chapters and four Special Interest Groups. This collaborative effort has enabled the team to produce customised content that reflects a broad spectrum of regional perspectives, thereby fostering a truly global resilience community.
Leading the Thought Leadership team is Maria Garcia, who heads the division with over 15 years of global experience in both academic and market research across public and private organisations. Garcia has been instrumental in guiding the research programme and shaping the BCI's strategic content plan. Rebecca Mathews, the Content Manager, brings extensive experience in public sector emergency planning and has made significant contributions to research reports and collaborative content. The team also benefits from the expertise of Dr. Gianluca Riglietti, a researcher specializing in the intersection of business continuity management and supply chain resilience.
Looking forward, the BCI's Thought Leadership team plans to continue producing high-quality, impactful research for its members in 2025 and beyond. The team has committed to amplify regional and diverse voices to ensure that their output reflects the inclusive nature of the resilience community. To enhance the delivery of their research, there are plans to diversify the content formats, including introducing podcasts, webinars, infographics, and interactive digital formats, aiming to make the insights even more accessible.
The BCI expresses gratitude to its members for their participation and contributions throughout the year, recognising that such collaboration is vital in shaping future research endeavours. To foster further engagement, the BCI invites feedback from members regarding content ideas and topics for exploration, a step that aims to underline the importance of community involvement in continuing to innovate within the resilience field.
As the BCI approaches 2025, it appears well-positioned to continue its role as a leader in research and thought leadership within the business continuity sector. Its commitment to advancing knowledge, collaboration, and innovative practices suggests that the coming year will yield further significant advancements within the field.
Source: Noah Wire Services