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Volcano disruption - PwC's business continuity leader comments on the crisis

20 April 2010

Martin Caddick, PwC's leader of risk and business continuity, comments on the effect that the Icelandic volcano has had on business continuity and what businesses can learn from the disruption. Martin (who is usually based in London) is himself stranded in Doha and so can speak from experience.

"I don't suppose many can claim to have anticipated this exact scenario. But is not so difficult to forecast that airlines might not be able to fly for some non-specific reason, for example a terrorist threat, and in this sense it is something that the better business continuity management plans will have considered.

"The thing about business continuity is that it is not about guessing exactly what might or might not happen, but rather whether you can do the important things you need to do should something goes wrong. 

"Actually I can, as I am writing this from Qatar. I've been able to go to a client's office where I can do a full day's work. I have carried on doing all the things I planned to do this week, but have just done them in a different place. That's the benefit of having mobile working capability, which works for the short term. But business continuity will get more difficult as time goes on.

"What happens when my visa expires? What about some key meetings I have next week - I have someone designated who can stand in in my place, but if necessary, there is a video conferencing facility in PwC's local office. What about if my credit card reaches its limit? In that case we will probably have to bypass procedures to make direct payments or to pay an advance on expenses.

"There are lots of people out there who are having real problems and businesses can't afford to take the risk of being unprepared. They have to learn lessons from this episode to ensure their survival."