0816_TOEFL-Test-and-Score-Manual-1997

Management Strategies ● 37
“We see chief financial officers and company auditors wanting to do
disaster plans,” said Bell. “People who lease space are also asking their
building managers how they can prepare.” Bell, who has worked with hundreds
of companies, said insurance companies encourage clients to plan
for disaster recovery.
Check out a variety of do-it-yourself products offered on her site: www
.disaster-survival.com.
Meanwhile, here’s a list of questions to ask before
developing a disaster recovery plan:
• Where would you work if you couldn’t work in the office?
• Can you arrange to share office space with another business?
• How would you contact clients and customers?
• Do you have a list of every employee’s name, address, and home phone
number?
• Do you have copies of your client or customer database at someone’s
home?
• Do you have copies of your invoices and accounts receivable somewhere
other than at the office?
• Are all your important business records, including corporate records,
backed up and stored offsite?
As part of your plan, you should keep important records at your home
or in another safe place. This includes tax records, returns, patents, training
materials, policy manuals, personnel records, and payroll checks. Back up
all data on thumb drives and give copies to one or two trusted employees.
Be sure to include current phone numbers for your insurance agent, plus
policy numbers and copies of your insurance policies.
Shoot digital photos of your computers and other equipment and create
an inventory including serial numbers. This information will help your
insurance company settle your claims quickly.
Before a disaster strikes, develop a plan for exiting your building
quickly and safely. Install fire extinguishers and schedule a fire drill. Assign
people to act as safety monitors. Speak to your insurance agent about buying
business interruption insurance to keep the doors open after a crisis.