Many UK organisations admit they are failing to prepare for disruption, despite an increase in upheaval caused by extreme weather conditions and high levels of people and skills loss, according to research by the Chartered Management Institute.

It found that 28% of companies were affected by extreme weather conditions in the 12 months to January 2007. The worst affected areas were Wales, where 21% reported significant disruption, closely followed by Scotland and the south-east (both 18%). 

It found that 20% also said their organisation’s productivity had suffered due to a ‘loss of skills’ over the past year, 17% blamed health and safety incidents for business disruption, and 32% focused on the impact caused by ‘loss of people’.

IT (73%) as the area most likely to impact on future costs and revenue, followed by loss of telecommunications (63%) and loss of access to sites (60%).

Jo Causon of the Chartered Management Institute says: “Protecting an organisation’s infrastructure is, of course, vital to its sustainability. However, technology is nothing without the people who can use it and unless organisations balance the need to safeguard buildings with the need to secure their workforce, any attempt at business continuity management will remain unfinished and inadequate.”