Bankole, FelixMitrovic, ZoranSambo, Mogamat Fadeel2015-05-292024-05-032015-05-292024-05-032014https://hdl.handle.net/10566/12685Magister Commercii (Information Management) - MCom(IM)This thesis examines what a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) should comprise off, as well as the difference between a BCP and a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) and the key elements of an effective BCP as well as the different types of disasters. It also investigates why companies that have BCP in place and conducts testing of their plan on a regular basis, either quarterly or bi-annually, still experience prolonged downtime during a disaster resulting in Service Level Agreements (SLA) not being met or major financial loses. It also inspects acceptable processes within a BCP to determine whether there are ways of improving these processes to prevent companies from experiencing prolonged downtime. The objective of this research is to determine and understand: • Why organisations within the Western Cape experience prolonged downtimes during a disaster event • The potential deficiencies in a BCP and how they can be amended.enBusiness continuity planBusiness continuity managementEnterprise risk managementDisaster risk managementThesisUniversity of the Western Cape