What's Chicken Got to Do with Business Continuity?

A lot more than you’d think. When KFC in the UK ran out of chicken in 2018 due to a logistical fiasco, it was more than a finger-lickin’ mishap, it became an unforgettable lesson in business continuity planning (BCP). The irony of a chicken restaurant without chicken was lost on no one. While the situation sparked plenty of jokes, it highlighted the vital importance of preparation, agility, and communication in responding to the unexpected.

Effective business continuity isn’t just the domain of massive corporations or global pandemics; every business, no matter the size, can benefit from being ready for the unexpected. A clever BCP can be the difference between staying afloat or becoming a cautionary tale. Whether it’s a transport glitch that leaves your most crucial ingredient stuck miles away, or a larger-scale catastrophe, navigating disruption requires more than luck, it’s all about resilience and strategy.

Why Every Leader Should Care About Continuity

Too many organisations treat continuity planning as a boring tick-box exercise, churning out hefty, jargon-filled documents that end up gathering more dust than praise. The real value of BCP lies in its ability to evolve and actively prepare businesses for the chaos of tomorrow. From supply chain snafus like KFC’s to massive events like natural disasters or unexpected cyberattacks, every company has its vulnerabilities. The true winning formula? Resilience, agility, and being a few steps ahead of the curve.

Lessons from Crisis Comebacks

The KFC Crisis and the Power of Humour

When KFC hit crisis mode and the public laughed at their expense, they did what any savvy brand would and joined in. Turning their “FCK” bucket campaign into marketing gold, they owned the mishap with charm and transparency, building stronger customer loyalty in the process. No sulking, no corporate excuses, just wit and humility. Turns out, honesty really is the best policy.

Resilience in the Face of Natural Disasters

On a more serious note, many New Zealand businesses impacted by the Christchurch earthquakes and, later, the COVID-19 pandemic gave us all a masterclass in quick thinking and adaptation. With a bit of Kiwi ingenuity, many local tourism operators pivoted, catering to domestic customers when global travel stopped cold. Their secret? Clear contingency plans and a rapid ability to innovate.

Technology Saved the Day During COVID-19

The sudden global shift to remote work during the pandemic tested every organisation’s tech infrastructure. Businesses that had embraced cloud systems cruised through the transition, while others, tethered to on-premise setups, faced frustrating delays and lost productivity. From WhatsApp coordination to sophisticated notification platforms, tech proved to be the glue that kept disrupted workplaces together.

No matter the crisis, every success story shares one undeniable truth - preparation really is everything.

What Are You Going to Do?

Even the best plans can fail if they’re not crafted with care. Common traps include:

1. Static Plans - Stale, dusty documents won’t help in a crisis. BCPs must evolve alongside your business.
2. Confusing BCP with Disaster Recovery - IT backups alone aren’t enough. Continuity isn’t just about data, you have to factor in the whole ecosystem, from supply chains to customer trust.
3. Undefined Responsibilities - Without a clear chain of command, crisis responses can turn chaotic. Assign roles in advance to keep your strategy smooth.
4. Ignoring Everyday Disruptions - Big disasters get the most attention, but don’t underestimate the harm of everyday hiccups like power outages or supplier delays.

Turn Concepts into Action

Start your planning off right:

• Perform a Business Impact Analysis. Identify the processes that matter most and protect them fiercely.
• Learn from the Past. If it’s worked before, use it. If it hasn’t, fix it. Simple!
• Test, Test, and Test Again. Theoretical plans aren’t enough. Run drills and update your strategies regularly.
• Think Big (and Small). Cover everything from large disruptions to everyday headaches. Agility is key.

Business continuity isn’t just about reacting to disasters; it’s about preparing for a resilient future. Whether facing a PR crisis or a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, the businesses that thrive are those that approach resilience head-on.

Forget winging it, you need to be ready to roll with every punch. Start building your plans today because, as the KFC debacle shows, even running out of chicken can teach us a thing or two about resilience.