Busi 2400 is a course that is heavily reliant on computer systems
and internet technology. One of the courses objectives is to teach students to
use different types of software. This software is mostly available only at the
university but there is a risk that the hardware available in the Sprott
computer labs can be jeopardized by external factors such as power blackouts.
It is important than that the Busi2400 class have a BCP or
Business Continuity Plan that can effectively respond to a campus wide power
outage.
I put forward this organizational strategic plan.
The solution to this problem will vary due to the material
being covered in disrupted labs. If the lab is showing students how to create
webpages on NVU or data management on Access, the students may need to procure
NVU software. It is assumable that all students have Microsoft Excel.
These are the steps that must be
taken within the first 12 hours of the power outage
1. Within 4 hour of the power outage being known, the
professors or TA’s should create a detailed set of instructions to explain the
labs processes. This should be in supplement to the regular Lab guidelines so
that students can learn the lab material on their own.
2. Within 7 hours of the power outage being known, an
effective and well established system of communication over Skype should be
already established for threat response purposes. It should have 2 Channels of
communication that students can interact with to ask for specific instructions.
Appropriate names could be “Busi2400Laboratory-helpcenter 1 & 2”. There
should be 1 TA on the end of each skype channel 24 hours a day in order to receive
questions from students.
3. Within 12 hours of the power outage being known, an email
should be sent to all students in the busi2400 sections, explaining the
situation with attached detailed instructions spoken of in Step 1 and contact
information addresses of the two skype addresses mentioned in step 2.
Once the contingency lab structures have been set the
Professor and TA’s should take these steps.
1.
Files stored in the busi2400.ssb.carleton.ca
website portal should be transferred to CuLearn so that students are guaranteed
access to files without having to download NVU. This would allow students to
further study the class material from home, and would not require intensive
labor on anyone’s part. This way students who are unable to access the portal
site from campus can access it from home with no difficulty. This should be
done within 24 hours and students notified.
2.
Continue to monitor the situation as emails and
inquiries from students return and update students on how the situation
progresses, making any changes necessary to the initial response. Schedule TAs
to take shifts responding to inquiries.
These steps would ensure an effective response to the
possibility of a blackout.
