Japanese Business Continuity Planning (BCP) overview
'Bousai' Emergency Preparedness vs BCP
- Japan has a culture of 'bousai' Emergency preparedness' for natural disasters. Where National/local Government, Emergency services, building owners and individuals are focused on saving lives.
- Japanese companies have historically have waited till after a disaster before making evaluation of the business damaged and trying to recover.
- In August 2005 the First Business Continuity Guidelines where published by the the Japanese Government.http://www.bousai.go.jp/MinkanToShijyou/guideline01e.pdf
- In 2006 BCP guidelines and a 3 part course where developed for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) developed by Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry METI. http://www.chusho.meti.go.jp/keiei/antei/download/110728JapanBCP_SME_Eng.pdf
- In the case of Tokyo; Tokyo Metropolitan Government Ordinance 10 and 11 requires all business premises regardless of size or usage in Tokyo have a disaster management plan and refer to local fire service for information on plan preparation.
- A survey in 2009 by TMG of 2000 Tokyo companies showed only 25.6% had been asked to formulate a BCP by the Business partners – this is predicted to increase to over 90% post Tohoku. A smaller survey by KMPG of 112 Tokyo companies in April 2011 found only 20% had developed or were in the process of developing a BCP.
- Post Tohoku Japanese BCP training courses are being promoted, especially in the Tokyo area to encourage companies to develop BCP plans in accordance to the government guidelines http://www.sangyo-rodo.metro.tokyo.jp/shoko/keiei/BCP/bcp/outline.htm
