Transform to “What When” (TARA) Readiness from “What If” (KAMO)—Worries Beyond Multiple BCPs for Various Hazards in Japan

Abstract

Since 2011, disasters have evolved into events that cannot be imagined from past experiences, and typical business continuity plans (BCPs) in Japan are unable to effectively deal with them. Through analysis of a questionnaire survey on BCPs in Japan, we found in this study that, typically private company-owned BCPs have focused on disaster response measures or plans for business itself, and are not directly relevant to the business units of individual employees and, as a result, have low feasibility. To focus on the continuity plans for business operations, which should be the original objective of a BCP, we propose a procedure to develop BCPs by moving from the perspective of “what if” (KAMO) to that of “what when” (TARA).