Expecting the Unexpected: Managing IT Responsibilities in Non-Disaster Situations

Perry BratcherLibrary Systems Manager

Northern Kentucky UniversityRight Click Version 3.0 8/22/07

Disaster Recovery Planning Elements

Computer Hardware

Computer Software

Networking Equipment

Peripheral Equipment

Hang in there!

What is the missing element?

People!

Why Neglect the Missing Element? Necessary for:

Bringing up systems Making assessments Moving equipment

What happens if staff are unavailable?

Consider……

Think in terms of a backup, not a disaster

Types of “Non-disaster” Reasons for Personnel Backup:

Sabbaticals Retirement Death Medical Leaves Sickness Vacation Etc.

So What Do You Call This?

Personnel

Succession

Planning

So What Does It Include?

Mentoring Cross-Training Contingency Planning

Solutions for Successful Succession Planning

Short-term Mid-term Long-term

The Assessment “Grid”Short (1-3 days) Med (4 days-2 wks) Long ( > 2 weeks)

Expected

Unexpected

Elements for Review

Documentation procedures (Ugh!) Routine for reporting on projects Up-to-date job description Performance review Shared database of notes/history (yeah, right!)

Employee Involvement Critical

Think about “terms”

Questions to consider

How to handle resistance

Be An Example!

Putting it into Practice

Known Extended Leave

Skill sets and keeping current

Have employees look at scenarios

Personal Examples

Death of Long-time employee Retirement of employee Sabbatical

Issues Relating to Death of Employee

Cross-training Passwords Physical combinations Contacts Project statuses Email monitoring

Issues Relating to Retired Employee

Job Description evaluation Procedures Distribution of duties Review of Procedures Application

Issues Related to Sabbatical (Extended Leave)

Job duties and procedures Some duties left for return? Some duties left undone?

In Summary

Think about your situation and apply what will work for you

Be Prepared!