Business Continuity Guidelines 1st ed. —Reducing the Impact of Disasters and Improving Responses to Disasters by Japanese Companies —

In Japan, where disasters occur frequently, it is desired to build a disaster-resistant country with cooperation among government, corporations, and citizens. In particular, under circumstances where the interruption of corporate activities might have adverse effects on a global scale due to the globalization of economies, it is becoming more important for the business sector to develop its own preparations to continue business at the time of a disaster, and recover critical operations to the level prior to the disaster.

In Japan, where natural disasters occur frequently, in companies responding to disaster prevention, it seems that there are many that first anticipate disasters and then develop measures upon assuming such anticipated disasters. Based on experience of natural disasters, as to specific responses after a disaster occurs, it is believed that we have no choice but to make a determination after comprehending actual damage. It is necessary to consider, however, whether this attitude results in an insufficient understanding of "promoting advance preparation regardless of the type of disaster," a key point in the concept of business continuity.

Japanese companies should note that if measures for business continuity are specifically considered on the assumption of an earthquake by each department in charge of critical operations, there are many common measures for business continuity in the case of other natural and man-made disasters. If thinking has reached this point, Japanese companies can understand the significance that foreign companies, where the weight of natural disasters is relatively low in terms of risk, have developed business continuity plans regardless of types of disaster