Dimensions of Business Resiliency among Academic Institutions

Abstract

Business resiliency is the ability of an organization to adapt to and recover from unexpected events, such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, and pandemics. It is essential for educational institutions, which play a vital role in society by educating and preparing students for the future.

However, educational institutions face various risks that can threaten their ability to operate effectively. These risks include natural disasters, cyberattacks, pandemics, financial difficulties, and reputational damage.

To mitigate these risks and ensure the continuity of operations, educational institutions need to develop and implement business resiliency plans. A business resiliency plan is a comprehensive document that outlines how an organization will respond to, recover from, and mitigate unexpected events.

This study investigated the status of business resiliency at Union Christian College (UCC), employing the cross-sectional study design to compare the data from different groups of respondents. The respondents served the College from 2018 to 2021 and experienced the school operations from pre- and during the pandemic. The study utilized an adopted questionnaire to gather the relevant data, which was treated using descriptive and inferential statistics.

The study found that UCC is perceived to be resilient overall, but there is room for improvement in planning and preparedness. Moreover, agreement among the respondents was established as no significant difference between the respondent’s assessment of the resiliency of the College based on the different groupings they represented.

Based on the findings of the study, the following business resiliency activities are proposed for educational institutions:

Hire an expert for disaster risk and mitigation. This expert can help the institution identify and assess risks, develop mitigation strategies, and train staff on disaster preparedness and response.

Form a “Disaster Risk Management and Business Resilience” Manual and Committee to lead in times of disasters. This manual and committee will provide a framework for the institution to respond to and recover from disasters in a coordinated and effective manner.

Conduct regular disaster drills and exercises. This will help staff to practice their roles and responsibilities in the event of a disaster.

Develop and implement a business continuity plan. This plan will outline how the institution will maintain essential operations during a disruption.

Invest in information security and cybersecurity measures. This will help to protect the institution’s data and systems from cyberattacks.

Build relationships with key stakeholders, such as government agencies, emergency responders, and community organizations. This will help ensure the institution has the support and resources to respond to and recover from a disaster.

By implementing these business resiliency activities, educational institutions can improve their ability to withstand and recover from unexpected events, ensuring they can continue providing their students with a quality education.