In preparing a business continuity plan for procurement, what is the first step?

In preparing a business continuity plan for procurement, what is the first step?

• A. Document core procurement services
• B. Assess risks that could interrupt operations
• C. Develop a mitigation strategy
• D. Train the team and conduct mock exercises

Answer: (A)

Documenting the core procurement services first creates the scope and priority for the entire continuity effort. By identifying and describing the essential procurement activities—what must be performed to keep operations running and which suppliers, contracts, and processes support them—you establish a clear baseline of what needs protection. This map makes it possible to assess vulnerabilities and recovery needs in a focused way because you know exactly which services are critical and where dependencies lie. Without this documentation, risk analysis and mitigation planning can miss key areas or treat less important tasks as priorities. Once the essential services are mapped, you can proceed to assess risks, design appropriate mitigations, and train and test the plan with a solid understanding of what must be sustained.

Documenting the core procurement services first creates the scope and priority for the entire continuity effort. By identifying and describing the essential procurement activities—what must be performed to keep operations running and which suppliers, contracts, and processes support them—you establish a clear baseline of what needs protection. This map makes it possible to assess vulnerabilities and recovery needs in a focused way because you know exactly which services are critical and where dependencies lie. Without this documentation, risk analysis and mitigation planning can miss key areas or treat less important tasks as priorities. Once the essential services are mapped, you can proceed to assess risks, design appropriate mitigations, and train and test the plan with a solid understanding of what must be sustained.