Business Continuity Exercises and Testing

Programme Summary

Continuity plans need practical exercises that reveal whether people, resources and decisions can support recovery priorities. This programme develops skills for designing proportionate exercises, facilitating realistic scenarios and evaluating results. Participants create an exercise pack, run a short simulation and prepare an improvement report that turns observed gaps into accountable actions and meaningful retesting.

Training Objectives

1 Connect exercise objectives with continuity priorities; 2 Develop realistic scenarios and exercise controls; 3 Strengthen facilitation observation and evaluation skills; 4 Support actionable findings and corrective improvements; 5 Build proportionate exercise programmes and retesting plans.

Learning Outcomes

1 Define measurable continuity exercise objectives; 2 Design a scenario and timed information injects; 3 Prepare participant observer and safety briefings; 4 Evaluate exercise evidence against stated objectives; 5 Produce an improvement and retesting action plan.

Target Audience

Business Continuity Coordinators; Risk Managers; Exercise Facilitators; Operations Managers; IT Recovery Coordinators.

Target Industries

Financial Services; Utilities; Healthcare Administration; Manufacturing; Logistics; Technology Services.

Course Contents

• Module 1 Exercise Purpose and Programme: Continuity priorities and capability evidence; Discussion simulation and technical test differences; Programme coverage frequency and maturity.
• Module 2 Objectives and Scope: Specific measurable exercise objectives; Participants dependencies and recovery assumptions; Boundaries exclusions and success criteria.
• Module 3 Scenario Development: Plausible disruptions and business consequences; Scenario narrative timeline and injects; Complexity realism and learning value.
• Module 4 Exercise Planning: Roles resources and logistical arrangements; Confidentiality wellbeing and operational safeguards; Briefings control rules and stop conditions.
• Module 5 Facilitation and Observation: Neutral prompts and information release; Recording decisions actions and elapsed times; Avoiding coaching that hides capability gaps.
• Module 6 Evaluation and Debrief: Evidence against objectives and assumptions; Strengths gaps and contributing factors; Constructive participant and observer feedback.
• Module 7 Improvement and Retesting: Prioritised actions owners and due dates; Plan updates training and resource changes; Verifying closure through proportionate retesting.
• Module 8 Exercise Design Workshop: Creating a practical exercise pack; Facilitating a short continuity simulation; Producing an evidence based improvement report.

Assessment

• 40 single best answer questions, including applied scenarios; one mark per question.
• 60 minute invigilated digital examination with identity verification. Approved accessibility adjustments preserve the assessed competence.
• Supplied reference pack permitted; external internet and AI assistance prohibited.
• Individual applied assessment (45 minutes): Design an exercise pack, facilitate a short scenario segment and produce an evaluation report with prioritised actions and retesting criteria.
• Assessment criteria: Alignment of scenario and objectives; Quality of facilitation and observation evidence; Actionability of findings and retesting controls.
• Pass each component separately: 30/40 written marks (75%) and at least 70% on the applied task.
• Individual results and feedback are provided. One reassessment may follow coaching under the published enrolment terms.

Certification

• Successful learners receive a TQCSI Arabia digital Certificate of Successful Completion.
• The certificate records the learner name, exact programme title, teaching hours, completion date and unique verification reference.
• Verified identity, full attendance and separate written and applied passes are required; all mandatory critical criteria must be met.
• Proposed issue target: within 30 calendar days of approved results and settlement of applicable fees.
• Records assessed continuity exercise design and evaluation skills; it does not certify organisational resilience or recovery performance.
• Attendance confirmation may record completed hours for unsuccessful learners; it does not certify successful completion.

Programme Profile

Number of daysNumber of daysNumber of days

222

Total teaching hoursTotal teaching hoursTotal teaching hours

12 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.12 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.12 hours; breaks, pre course work and formal final assessments excluded.

Delegates allowedDelegates allowedDelegates allowed

Maximum 20 delegates.Maximum 20 delegates.Maximum 20 delegates.

Training prerequisitesTraining prerequisitesTraining prerequisites

Familiarity with business continuity plans and recovery priorities is required. Experience participating in an exercise is recommended.Familiarity with business continuity plans and recovery priorities is required. Experience participating in an exercise is recommended.Familiarity with business continuity plans and recovery priorities is required. Experience participating in an exercise is recommended.

Pre course assignment and assessmentPre course assignment and assessmentPre course assignment and assessment

Review a supplied continuity plan extract and identify testable assumptions during a 30 minute exercise.Review a supplied continuity plan extract and identify testable assumptions during a 30 minute exercise.Review a supplied continuity plan extract and identify testable assumptions during a 30 minute exercise.

End of course assessmentEnd of course assessmentEnd of course assessment

40 question written exam (60 minutes) and individual applied task (45 minutes).40 question written exam (60 minutes) and individual applied task (45 minutes).40 question written exam (60 minutes) and individual applied task (45 minutes).

Passing criteriaPassing criteriaPassing criteria

75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance.75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance.75% written and 70% applied, passed separately; full attendance.