IS 506 Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Management and Tactics
Summary
This course will give you more in-depth information of how a company should prepare for all types of disruptions (floods, tornadoes, chemical spills, equipment malfunctions, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, etc.) so it will survive the disruption. The information in this course will use concepts taught in IS505 (Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery) as a basis, but will go into the material in more detail, adding more information to the basic concepts. This approaches Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery (BC/DR) from a management perspective, teaching you how to establish a BC/DR program in your company, learning about project management issues unique to BC/DR, integrating the Business Impact Analysis data into your program, evaluating existing and emerging BC standards and how to use them to audit your existing/new BC/DR program, identification of human resources issues, and conducting and evaluating recovery exercise results. As a result of IS505 and this course, you will be provided with the skills and material that you can use to evaluate a company's BC/DR program to determine its ability to recover from a disaster.
Texts
Instead of a textbook, all required reading will be contained in D2L. This information not only contains background material, but also provides supplemental information that will consist of the evaluation methodology developed and used by the instructor in over 30 BC/DR projects. There will be over 40 PowerPoint presentations, custom-created methodology documents, case studies, as well as FEMA on-line course materials.
Grading
Grading is based upon the manner in which a student fulfills the objectives of the course. Each student will be evaluated on his/her performance (no grading curve will be used). 93-100 pts=A; 90-92 pts=A-; 87-89 pts=B+; 83-86 pts=B; 80-82 pts=B-; 77-79 pts=C+; 73-76 pts=C; 70-72 pts=C-; 67-69 pts=D+; 60-66 pts=D; and 0-59 pts=F. The weight of each assignment for contributing to the final average is as follows for both inclass and OL students: 2 Homework Assignments = 30% of final grade; and Final Take-Home Case Study Exam = 50% of final grade. For the final 20% of the grade, this is different for inclass and OL students. 20% of inclass students' grades are dependent upon class attendance and participation while 20% of OL students' grades are dependent upon active participation in a Discussion Forum topic designated by the instructor.
Prerequisites
Completing IS505 is best as the course builds upon concepts learned in that course.
Homework and Final Exam:
All homework is based on case studies. These case studies are based on real company information and NOT prepared for this class. The only material changed in the case studies are: company names; locations; and product names.
There will be a Take-Home Final Exam where the overriding evaluation criterion will be based upon application of the methodology and justification of its use to formulate recommended solutions. To see the criteria on which you will be evaluated, please see the section below titled GRADING.
All written assignments are due to the instructor via DePaul's D2L System https://D2L.depaul.edu by the designated time/date indicated in D2L, unless permission is received by the instructor PRIOR to the due dates. Late assignments will automatically be graded 10% lower than those that are submitted on time. If late, this will be taken into consideration in your final grade. YOU MUST MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF YOUR ASSIGNMENTS CAN BE OPENED AND READ BY THE INSTRUCTOR. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT IN READABLE FORMAT BY SUBMISSION TIME, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN F FOR THE ASSIGNMENT.
Refer to the section titled GRADING for all criteria on which ALL assignments will be evaluated.
Course Policies:
CHANGES TO SYLLABUS
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under NEWS in D2L and sent via email.
ONLINE COURSE EVALUATIONS
Instructor and course evaluations provide valuable feedback that can improve are in the unique position to view the instructor over time. Your comments about what works and what does not can help faculty build on the elements of the course that are strong and improve those that are weak. Isolated comments from students and instructors' peers may also be helpful, but evaluation results based on high response rates may be statistically reliable (believable). As you experience this course and material, think about how your learning is impacted. Your honest opinions about your experience in and commitment to the course and your learning may help improve some components of the course for the next group of students. Positive comments also show the department chairs and college deans the commitment of instructors to the university and teaching evaluation results are one component used in annual performance reviews (including salary raises and promotion/tenure). The evaluation of the instructor and course provides you an opportunity to make your voice heard on an important issue, the quality of teaching at DePaul. Do not miss this opportunity to provide feedback!
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND PLAGIARISM
This course will be subject to the academic integrity policy passed by faculty. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/.
The university and school policy on plagiarism can be summarized as follows: Students in this course should be aware of the strong sanctions that can be imposed against someone guilty of plagiarism. If proven, a charge of plagiarism could result in an automatic F in the course and possible expulsion. The strongest of sanctions will be imposed on anyone who submits as his/her own work any assignment which has been prepared by someone else. If you have any questions or doubts about what plagiarism entails or how to properly acknowledge source materials be sure to consult the instructor.
WITHDRAWAL
Students who withdraw from the course do so by using the Campus Connection system (http://campusconnect.depaul.edu. Withdrawals processed via this system are effective the day on which they are made. Simply ceasing to attend, or notifying the instructor, or nonpayment of tuition, does not constitute an official withdrawal from class and will result in academic as well as financial penalty.
RETROACTIVE WITHDRAWAL
This policy exists to assist students for whom extenuating circumstances prevented them from meeting the withdrawal deadline. During their college career students may be allowed one medical/personal administrative withdrawal and one college office administrative withdrawal, each for one or more courses in a single term. Repeated requests will not be considered. Submitting an appeal for retroactive withdrawal does not guarantee approval.
College office appeals for CDM students must be submitted online via MyCDM.
The deadlines for submitting appeals are as follows:
Autumn Quarter: Last day of the last final exam of the subsequent winter quarter
Winter Quarter: Last day of the last final exam of the subsequent spring quarter
Spring Quarter: Last day of the last final exam of the subsequent autumn quarter
Summer Terms: Last day of the last final exam of the subsequent autumn quarter
EXCUSED ABSENCE
In order to petition for an excused absence, students who miss class due to illness or significant personal circumstances should complete the Absence Notification process through the Dean of Students office. The form can be accessed at http://studentaffairs.depaul.edu/dos/forms.html. Students must submit supporting documentation alongside the form. The professor reserves the sole right whether to offer an excused absence and/or academic accommodations for an excused absence.
INCOMPLETE
An incomplete grade is a special, temporary grade that may be assigned by an instructor when unforeseeable circumstances prevent a student from completing course requirements by the end of the term and when otherwise the student had a record of satisfactory progress in the course. CDM policy
requires the student to initiate the request for incomplete grade before the end of the term in which the course is taken. Prior to submitting the incomplete request, the student must discuss the circumstances with the instructor. Students may initiate the incomplete request process in MyCDM.
1. All incomplete requests must be approved by the instructor of the course and a CDM Associate Dean. Only exceptions cases will receive such approval.
2. If approved, students are required to complete all remaining course requirement independently in consultation with the instructor by the deadline indicated on the incomplete request form.
3. By default, an incomplete grade will automatically change to a grade of F after two quarters have elapsed (excluding summer) unless another grade is recorded by the instructor.
4. An incomplete grade does NOT grant the student permission to attend the same course in a future quarter.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Student Center, LPC, Suite #370
Phone number: (773)325.1677 Fax: (773)325.3720 TTY: (773)325.7296
Introduction to the Course. Introduction of Instructor and Students. Review of Syllabus. Class Goals-Those of the Class and Student Expectations. Brief Review of BC/DR Concepts and Definitions. Project Initiation in BC/DR. How to Establish the Need for a BC Program in an Organization. Obtaining Management Support and Sponsors.
After the Business Impact Analysis (BIA) is Completed, Evaluate the Criticality of Business Functions and Prioritize Them in an Organization. (This is more in-depth than what was covered in IS505 and uses the BIA concepts in that course as a basis.) The Human Resources (HR) Side of BC. How to Protect Your Employees During a Disaster, Different HR Policies and Procedures Required, Employee Assistance Programs, Hiring Temporary Employees, Payroll Continuation, Absenteeism During a Pandemic, and Other Issues That Impact Your Employees During and After a Disaster.
BC/DR RISK ASSESSMENT--How to Conduct a BC/DR Risk Assessment. Identification of Risks, Exposures, Evaluation, Mitigation, Costs, Recommendations to Management.
EXERCISES, PART 1, DESIGN--Detailed Information on How to Prepare, Manage, Complete and Audit the Following Recovery Plan Exercises: Table Top; Simulation; Operational; Mock Disaster; Desktop and Full Rehearsal. Components Needed for Exercises, Evaluating the Exercises, Reporting Results of Exercises to Management. Create Evaluation Methodology for In Class Table Top Exercise Conducted in Class 5.
EXERCISES, PART II, IMPLEMENTATION-Participate in an In Class Table Top Exercise, Using a Sample Recovery Plan. Evaluate the Results of the Table Top Exercise and Document List of Changes to Plan.
FINAL EXAM IS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL STUDENTS. "Jeopardy" review of all class material covered to date.
CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS--Establish Strategies for External/Internal Communications During Emergency, Establish and Document Program. Establish Crisis Communications Team with Appropriate Stakeholders Involved.
DISASTER DECLARATION--Setting up the Command Center for Recovery: Review its Components; When to Activate; What is Needed at the Command Center; and Working With External Agencies. Also, How to Conduct a Damage Assessment Review Before a Company Declares a Disaster.
Evaluation of 3 BC Standards Endorsed by Homeland Security: BS25999, NFPA 1600, and ASIS SPC.1. Also Best Practice Guidelines from the Business Continuity Institute (BCI) and the Disaster Recovery Journal and DRI International (DRJ/DRI). How to Use these Standards and Guidelines to Audit the Health of a Company?s BC/DR Program and Practices and to Evaluate its Ability to Recover from a Disaster.
Wrap-up summary of all Concepts Covered in Class and How They Fit into the BC/DR Lifecycle.
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296