Operational Resilience: 30 Questions you should ask.

When assessing operational resilience, it’s important to explore a range of topics including risk management, business continuity, crisis response, and overall organisational preparedness. Here are 30 questions that can help evaluate operational resilience:

1. Can you describe your organisation’s approach to operational resilience?
2. How do you identify and assess potential operational risks?
3. What strategies do you employ for risk mitigation and management?
4. How is resilience integrated into your business continuity planning?
5. What measures are in place to ensure the resilience of your supply chain?
6. How do you ensure effective communication during a crisis?
7. Can you describe your incident response plan and its effectiveness in a real scenario?
8. How do you prioritise critical business functions and services in your resilience planning?
9. What technologies do you use to enhance operational resilience?
10. How do you test and validate your resilience and continuity plans?
11. What training do employees receive on resilience and crisis management?
12. How do you manage and recover from IT disruptions or cyber attacks?
13. What is your process for post-incident review and learning?
14. How do you ensure the resilience of your financial processes and systems?
15. What is your approach to managing third-party risks related to resilience?
16. How do you stay informed about emerging risks and adjust your strategies accordingly?
17. Can you provide an example of a resilience challenge your organisation faced and overcame?
18. How do you measure and track the effectiveness of your resilience strategies?
19. What role does leadership play in your organisation’s resilience?
20. How do you manage the human aspects of resilience, such as staff welfare during a crisis?
21. What are your strategies for maintaining customer service during disruptive events?
22. How do you incorporate regulatory and compliance requirements into your resilience planning?
23. What is your approach to physical security and facility resilience?
24. How do you balance investment in resilience with other business priorities?
25. How do you ensure continuous improvement in your resilience capabilities?
26. What is your approach to managing environmental risks and sustainability in the context of resilience?
27. How do you foster a culture of resilience within the organisation?
28. What challenges have you faced in building operational resilience, and how have you addressed them?
29. How do you integrate resilience planning across different departments and functions?
30. Looking ahead, what are the key trends or changes you anticipate impacting operational resilience, and how is your organisation preparing for these?

These questions cover various facets of operational resilience, including planning, response, recovery, and continuous improvement. They are designed to provide insight into how well an organisation is prepared to handle disruptions and maintain critical operations under adverse conditions.

Disclaimer: The information provided herein is solely for informational purposes and represents my own personal views. It should not be construed as legal or regulatory advice. For advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a qualified professional. Additionally, the opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer.