What does a business continuity plan outline?

A business continuity plan specifically outlines strategies and procedures that an organization can implement to ensure that critical operations can continue during and after a disruption. This can include events such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, or any other unforeseen circumstances that might impede normal business operations. The focus of the plan is to minimize downtime and maintain essential functions by identifying key processes, resources needed to sustain operations, roles and responsibilities, and recovery strategies.

The other choices do touch upon important aspects of business operations but do not align with the primary purpose of a business continuity plan. Improving employee productivity is important for overall efficiency but is not the focus of continuity during disruptions. Protocols for financial reporting accuracy relate more to compliance and internal controls rather than operational continuity. Similarly, while managing external stakeholder communications is crucial for organizational reputation and transparency, it does not encompass the essentials of sustaining operations during critical events. Thus, the correct answer effectively captures the essence of what a business continuity plan is designed to achieve.