Business Continuity Advancement Organization (BCAO) has been actively engaged in the promotion of Business Continuity Plans (BCP) and Business Continuity Management (BCM), as well as the development of professional human resources since 2006. We take pride in being the largest Business Continuity (BC) promotion organization in Japan, with approximately 2,000 members, including those in charge of BC in companies and organizations, those who support the formulation and improvement of BC, and researchers. We established Japan’s first qualification system for BC, such as Business Continuity Specialist, award outstanding BC initiatives every year, and have served on many expert committees on BC for the central and local governments.
Since the establishment of BCAO, Japan has faced earthquakes, including the Great East Japan Earthquake, intensifying wind and flood damage, and is currently in urgent need of responding to COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to direct damage and supply chain disruptions, BCP/BCM is required to cope with a sharp drop in demand and difficulties in continuing employment. In addition, in 2019, stronger efforts to enhance the resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises was legislated, and BCAO is expected to play a role in improving the business continuity capabilities of certified enterprises. We are determined to overcome these new milestones in BC together with a wide range of people from business, government, and universities.
BCAO focuses on the development of human and organizational capabilities and the improvement of BC effectiveness, and considers BC as one of the management strategies to respond to changes in the internal and external environment. We disseminate methods to realize these goals through seminars, workshops, exercises, and professional development courses, and look forward to your participation.
[Foundation] January 19, 2006
[Established] June 20, 2006
【purpose】
For domestic and foreign individuals, companies, governments and other organizations, we will conduct business that contributes to the promotion of business continuity (BC) efforts in the event of a disaster, accident, incident, etc., to reduce economic and social damage and We aim to improve disaster and crisis management measures in local communities, thereby contributing to the safety, security, and development of the country and each region.
[Business description]
・Hold business continuity awareness seminars and dispatch lecturers
・Development of business continuity specialist training curriculum and teaching materials, and holding of business continuity specialist training courses
・Issuance of standard texts, etc. on business continuity
・Holding of the “BC Award” to recognize individuals, companies, local governments, and organizations that promote business continuity
・Investigation and research on business continuity
・Provision of the latest information on business continuity
[Number of members]:
Individual regular members: 569
Regular corporate members: 44 companies
Corporate supporting members: 27 companies
Regular corporate members (small and medium enterprises special): 22 companies
Student member: 1 person
Qualified members: 1,127 (as of March 31, 2022)
Purpose of establishment
1. Purpose
In recent years, the economies of countries around the world have been closely connected internationally through supply chains, and it is becoming increasingly important for each country to prepare for risks that threaten the continuity of important businesses.
Japan has many natural disasters from a global perspective, which are often seen as the greatest risk for both the corporate and government sectors. Since the summer of 2004, with the rainy season front torrential rains, a record number of 10 typhoons landing on Japan, and the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake, followed by earthquakes, including the Fukuoka Prefecture West Offshore Earthquake, and typhoon damage in 2005, the magnitude of disaster risk has once again attracted attention both inside and outside Japan, and the need for critical business continuity (BC) measures has become a necessity.
Since 2005, the Japanese government has announced a series of guidelines to promote business continuity planning (BCP) and business continuity management (BCM) initiatives, which have spread in developed countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. In addition, the Central Disaster Management Council pointed out the need for business continuity (BC) measures by the central government in preparation for an earthquake that directly hits Tokyo area, and included in the basic disaster prevention plan that companies should strive to formulate a business continuity plan (BCP). For this reason, the recognition of the need for business continuity (BC) efforts is spreading among companies and organizations in various regions.
Furthermore, there is a movement to standardize business continuity (BC) under ISO, and it is necessary for Japan to respond appropriately to this trend.
Japan, however, has limited number of companies and organizations capable of guiding and supporting business continuity (BC) efforts, and a shortage of human resources. In addition, international mutual coordination and efforts to improve the content of business continuity (BC) have just begun, and it is urgent to secure experts who can coordinate, negotiate, and conduct research. And the reality is that the number of institutions that can provide such education and training is limited.
For this reason, there is an urgent need to strengthen and broaden the activities of the personnel and organizations that are leading and supporting business continuity (BC) initiatives or conducting research in Japan today, by forming an organization to effectively promote the spread and awareness of business continuity (BC) and human resource development.
Of course, business continuity (BC) is a preparation that all companies and organizations are expected to work on as countermeasures against risks such as disasters, accidents, and incidents. In addition, business continuity (BC) cannot be closed by a single company or organization, and cannot be effective unless business partners and related parties also take measures. All organizations and groups, including small and medium-sized enterprises, municipalities, and various associations, will need to take appropriate measures. Therefore, if a system that contributes to the promotion of business continuity (BC) is developed and human resources are secured, it will contribute to the interests of a wide range of entities.
In addition, the spread of business continuity (BC) initiatives is one of the pillars of measures that not only reduce the economic and social impact of disasters, accidents, incidents, and other risks, including large-scale earthquakes, but also contribute to regional safety, security, and development, and this benefits all citizens.
In order to improve the situation described above, it is necessary to conduct projects in an organized and systematic manner, such as activities to promote understanding of business continuity (BC), standardization of items and contents, training of experts, surveys and research, provision of the latest information, and awards for advanced companies and organizations. All these projects are conducted in cooperation and collaboration with an unspecified number of individuals, companies, and organizations, and in doing so, it is essential for the organization to have a legal personality, as it requires procurement of goods and labor, outsourcing and commissioning of work, lectures and publication activities, and management of assets including intellectual property as an organization.
2. Background leading up to the application
In August 2005, the Central Disaster Management Council announced its guidelines, which clarified that the government would promote business continuity (BC) across all industries and business categories, and presented a structural model. In response to this, many experts on business continuity (BC) and specialists from various organizations that provide support services agreed that a forum for mutual cooperation and coordination is necessary in responding to the needs to support business continuity (BC), which is expected to expand. Subsequent to that, through preparatory meetings from the fall of 2005, the plan to establish Business Continuity Advancement Organization as a Specified Non-Profit Corporation ripened, and the application was filed on January 19, 2006, after a general meeting of 19 people.
Many of the founders had participated in the formulation of the “Business Continuity Guidelines” by the Central Disaster Management Council Working Group in the form of experts or corporate observers, and had also participated and cooperated in the formulation of other government guidelines and in studies conducted by government committees and other organizations to standardize them under ISO.
In addition, we have actively cooperated in seminars and symposiums organized by the government and various economic organizations. After the establishment of Business Continuity Advancement Organization, one of the main tasks is to expand the individual public interest initiatives of the founders as an organizational response to make even more effective contributions to society.
January 19, 2006
History of establishment
In order to promote “business continuity” of companies and organizations in the event of disasters, incidents, accidents, etc., experts, consultants, and people in charge from various companies have joined forces to establish Business Continuity Advancement Organization, a Specified Non-Profit Corporation.
The importance of corporate disaster prevention and crisis management measures has been recognized once again, due to the series of large-scale disasters that have occurred since 2004. Therefore, more attention is being paid to business continuity initiatives, which are business management strategies to minimize the interruption of activities of companies and organizations due to disasters, incidents, accidents, etc., and to recover as quickly as possible. The government also announced a series of guidelines on business continuity this year.
Members of Specified Non-Profit Corporation, Business Continuity Advancement Organization are expected to be individuals and corporations that provide guidance and support for the formulation, operation, training, and review of Business Continuity Plans (BCP) (collectively referred to as Business Continuity Management (BCM)), or implement such plans. The core members of the BCM Committee include academic experts who have served as members of BCP-related committees of the Cabinet Office and METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), consultants from the non-life insurance industry, and personnel from the computer/IT, general research institute, finance, construction, and other industries. The activities of BCAO include promotion and awareness-raising of business continuity, training of experts, standardization, awards, surveys and research, provision of the latest information, publication, lectures and other events, and support for the initiatives in companies and organizations.
History of the Establishment of “Specified Non-Profit Corporation, Business Continuity Advancement Organization “
◆January 6 NPO establishment briefing & discussion meeting
◆January 19 NPO inaugural general meeting
◆January 31 NPO application to the Cabinet Office
◆February 20: NPO acceptance by the Cabinet Office
◆May 10: First committee/subcommittee meeting
◆ May 30: NPO certification from the Cabinet Office
◆ June 20 registration of establishment
“Specified non-profit corporation Business Continuity Advancement Organization” established