Hello, dear friend, you can consult us at any time if you have any questions, add WeChat: THEend8_
IRDR 0017 - Develop a Horizon Scan report Clarifications and FAQs
Develop a horizon scan report (1700 words allowed, plus references). Do not exaggerate on the word
count, you have 10% tolerance and must exercise common sense. Imagine you need to persuade the
board of a small, medium-size or large organization (SME) to focus its resources on the 3 threats that
you are identifying and adopt some of the solutions/mitigations that you are suggesting as a
consequence of this identification (if any). Please chose an SME, or a public utility, or an emergency
facility (such as a Fire Brigade operations centre) or something else that you are interested in. It can
be in your hometown, in London, or somewhere else in the world. Please check the marking scheme
available.
Deadline.
IRDR0003, but this needs to be brought forward by the students reps by the first week of March.
Making will start soon afterwards.
Clarification 1. What is it the meaning of “Horizon Scanning”?
Horizon scanning is used to monitor and identify potential threats to an organization, considering
longer term change and underlying trends. It is strictly connected with the process of examining and
assessing risks, but it’s not the same. You will find it described shortly at p. 159 of the mandatory
reading “Business Continuity for Dummies” and related to Chapter on examining risk. Remember that
at the local level you may find risk registers to support your choices... But you can also disagree with
them as soon as you argue why and have solid sources (e.g. a new NATO report).
Clarification 2. What is it the meaning of “SME”?
Category definition: ‘The category of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is made up of
enterprises which employ fewer than 250 persons and which have an annual turnover not exceeding
EUR 50 million, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million.’ Keep the same
threshold of common sense even if you are looking as something in the public sector.
Clarification2/bis: How small?
Yes, family businesses and micro enterprises (e.g. microbreweries) can be considered for this the
report. You may also be willing to get in touch with them to use this task to help them.
Clarification 3. What do you need to demonstrate?
1. The capacity to produce clear augment, a consistent structure, and conclusions supported by
the state of art.
2. Critical analysis that integrates the teaching of the module so far, in particular with respect to
the BCM process.
3. Clear communication and consistent references.
Clarification 4. How do I develop the report?
1. Start by describing the organisation and its context.
2. Use this knowledge to develop a rationale that defines three threats (no more, no fewer) on
which the chosen organisation should focus its planning resources in the next year. Try to prioritise
them.
3. Explain why the threats that have been chosen are the most important ones, and why you are
prioritizing them as such. You can propose solutions or mitigation measures as a consequence of
your rationale. Support your points with, for example, literature, news and reports.
You can make assumptions about the outputs of the Business Impact Analysis. However, you should
explain something about the basis of the assumptions and note their possible limitations. In other
words, you are not asked to know all the details of the organization as you may not have all the data.
What you are asked to do is to make rational assumptions and elaborate a credible horizon scan report
based on the details you possess. Remember to check the marking scheme.
Clarification 5 - Do. AKA: Gianluca, what are your suggestions for doing a good report?
1. Be smart, critical and creative. You do not have to focus only on the most evident threats.
Providing you can support your choice with evidence or rational argument, all will be well.
2. Try to use official sources and reports where you can. Be persuasive and consistent.
3. Have fun with this task. You can experiment within the limits of thinking critically and
rationally. Are you 'crying wolf' or demonstrating that the wolf is waiting outside the door?
Clarification 6- Don’t. AKA: Gianluca, what are the things that you do not want to see in the
report?
1. Confusion between creative and being inconsistent, underestimating this task. Remember this
is a report for a board and you need to ground what you are saying. This exam is developed
thinking about what you may do in your future jobs.
2. DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA and try to check as many of your sources as possible. Want to fail
exam? Cite Wikipedia or the Daily Express to support what you did, it is the shortcut to annoy
the Module Tutor. Please use your critical thinking. You are at UCL.
3. Not all the reports will be excellent...But if you use your brain, most likely you will do at least
a sufficient work. The bottom line is: whatever you write, it has to be your own work. DO NOT
PLAGIARISE or copy and paste from the reports you find. This will seriously annoy the Module
Tutor, and it can cost you a heavy disciplinary action. You are doing this module for yourself,
not for anybody else. Together with the link in Moodle
Clarification 8- Can I use appendices? Are they counted in the main word count?
Yes, you can use appendixes and they are not counted in the word count. However, they should not
include anything essential for understanding the core text, and they should not be abused. Appendices
that do not add anything of real value are NOT welcomed.
Taking the example of the excellent report of A that I uploaded for you to check out, Appendix A and
E should have been at least summarized in the core text. This influenced the mark. Appendices were
all really good, and it was fine to include here the definitions. However, it’s also true that some part
of the report could have been much more synthetic... But up to a point. Using this and other classwork
for benchmarking, the world limit moved from 1500 words + tolerance in 19/20, to 1700words +
tolerance. Realistically, you should be able to do something good with 1700k words and using smartly
the Appendices.