An approach to business continuity self-assessment

São Mamede, Henrique; Russo, Nelson; Reis, Leonilde

Publication

An approach to business continuity self-assessment

2025-06-10Journal article

datacite.subject.fos	Engenharia e Tecnologia::Engenharia Eletrotécnica, Eletrónica e Informática
datacite.subject.sdg	09:Indústria, Inovação e Infraestruturas
dc.contributor.author	São Mamede, Henrique
dc.contributor.author	Russo, Nelson
dc.contributor.author	Reis, Leonilde
dc.date.accessioned	2026-01-09T13:49:11Z
dc.date.available	2026-01-09T13:49:11Z
dc.date.issued	2025-06-10
dc.description.abstract	Business Continuity Management (BCM) is critical for organizations to mitigate disruptions and maintain operations, yet many struggle with fragmented and non-standardized self-assessment tools. Existing frameworks often lack holistic integration, focusing narrowly on isolated components like cyber resilience or risk management, which limits their ability to evaluate BCM maturity comprehensively. This research addresses this gap by proposing a structured Self-Assessment System designed to unify BCM components into an adaptable, standards-aligned methodology. Grounded in Design Science Research, the system integrates a BCM Model comprising eight components and 118 activities, each evaluated through weighted questions to quantify organizational preparedness. The methodology enables organizations to conduct rapid as-is assessments using a 0–100 scoring mechanism with visual indicators (red/yellow/green), benchmark progress over time and against peers, and align with international standards (e.g., ISO 22301, ITIL) while accommodating unique organizational constraints. Demonstrated via focus groups and semi-structured interviews with 10 organizations, the system proved effective in enhancing top management commitment, prioritizing resource allocation, and streamlining BCM implementation—particularly for SMEs with limited resources. Key contributions include a reusable self-assessment tool adaptable to any BCM framework, empirical validation of its utility in identifying weaknesses and guiding continuous improvement, and a pathway from initial assessment to advanced measurement via the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. By bridging the gap between theoretical standards and practical application, this research offers a scalable solution for organizations to systematically evaluate and improve BCM resilience.	eng
dc.identifier.doi	10.3390/technologies13060242
dc.identifier.issn	2227-7080
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/20738
dc.language.iso	eng
dc.peerreviewed	yes
dc.publisher	MDPI
dc.relation	INESC TEC - Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC)
dc.relation.hasversion	https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/13/6/242
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject	Business continuity
dc.subject	Disaster recovery
dc.subject	Self-assessment
dc.subject	Measurement
dc.subject	Information and communication technology
dc.title	An approach to business continuity self-assessment	eng
dc.type	journal article
dspace.entity.type	Publication
oaire.awardTitle	INESC TEC - Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC)
oaire.awardURI	info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/LA%2FP%2F0063%2F2020/PT
oaire.citation.endPage	27
oaire.citation.issue	6
oaire.citation.startPage	1
oaire.citation.title	Technologies
oaire.citation.volume	13
oaire.fundingStream	6817 - DCRRNI ID
oaire.version	http://purl.org/coar/version/c_970fb48d4fbd8a85
person.familyName	São Mamede
person.familyName	Russo
person.familyName	Reis
person.givenName	Henrique
person.givenName	Nelson
person.givenName	Leonilde
person.identifier	R-002-0P0
person.identifier.ciencia-id	7F17-9DAD-C007
person.identifier.ciencia-id	B61D-AF04-BEF3
person.identifier.orcid	0000-0002-5383-9884
person.identifier.orcid	0000-0001-9664-7148
person.identifier.orcid	0000-0002-4398-8384
person.identifier.scopus-author-id	36458782500
project.funder.identifier	http://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871
project.funder.name	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
relation.isAuthorOfPublication	86fd6131-eed5-42be-9639-9466ddf680ab
relation.isAuthorOfPublication	f99e7531-bf18-4078-89e2-74100249d219
relation.isAuthorOfPublication	46a9025b-8bf0-4924-b320-20d107b74e12
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscovery	86fd6131-eed5-42be-9639-9466ddf680ab
relation.isProjectOfPublication	70de26da-3525-4150-b88a-c38d047c59c5
relation.isProjectOfPublication.latestForDiscovery	70de26da-3525-4150-b88a-c38d047c59c5