Public consultation for the international standard ISO 22316 Guidelines for organizational resilience is now open. UK comments are requested by June 13, 2016. BSI, the UK standards body, is leading the consultation process in the UK and interested parties can register their comments online at: https://drafts.bsigroup.com/Home/Details/56251.
ISO 22316 is based upon BS 65000 Guidance for Organizational Resilience which provides an overview of resilience, describing the foundations required and explaining how to build resilience. It deals with an organization’s capacity to anticipate, respond and adapt. The standards body says that resilience can enable organizations to:
Adapt/improvise successfully to unforeseen and disruptive changing environments
Gain a competitive edge by identifying gaps and taking advantage of opportunities
Be more agile and innovative by learning from trends
Reduce costs and increase efficiency by avoiding potential pitfalls
Obtain a better understanding of risks and opportunities
Preserve and improve their reputation by being seen as vigilant and robust
Engender trust amongst external clients and internally amongst staff; and
Cultivate a culture of shared purpose and values.
The aim of the consultation process for ISO 22316 is to develop an international best practice standard for organizational resilience and establish clear guidance for anyone wishing to take a proactive approach to help ensure that their organization passes the test of time. The draft has been compiled by global representatives from organizations across all sectors that make up the committee.
ISO 22316 can help:
Clarify the nature and scope of resilience
Identify the key components of resilience to enable an organization to review its resilience
Implement and measure improvements; and
Identify and recommend good practice already defined in existing standards and disciplines.
Scott Steedman, Director of Standards at BSI, said: “Organizations that are resilient understand their behaviour can create long term success. They take a proactive approach to governing themselves and have noted the importance of being prepared. This strategy applies across a wide range of disciplines such as asset management, business continuity, cyber security, environmental management and facilities management, to name a few. We are very pleased that ISO 22316 will continue the work started by BS 65000, and help deliver benefits to businesses of all sizes and sectors around the world.”
The final standard is expected in 2017 subject to the feedback during the consultation.
