Explanation
Regulatory compliance is the adherence to laws, regulations, guidelines and specifications relevant to an organization’s business processes. It has always been a challenge to organizations since it has a significant influence on corporate planning, such as strategic objectives, policies, procedures, risk management, performance measurement and improvement. Regulatory compliance can also affect the organization’s reputation, customer satisfaction, stakeholder confidence and legal liability. Therefore, organizations need to establish, implement, maintain and improve a business continuity management system (BCMS) that meets the requirements of ISO 22301 and other applicable regulations. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter
1: Introduction to Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS), Section 1.2: Regulatory Compliance, page 9.

Explanation
The four phases of the Deming Cycle are Plan, Do, Check, and Act. The Deming Cycle, also known as the PDCA cycle, is a four-step model for continuous improvement of processes, products, or services. The cycle was developed by Dr. W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of quality management, and is based on the scientific method of problem-solving. The four phases of the Deming Cycle are1:
Plan: Identify the problem or opportunity, analyze the root causes, and establish the objectives and measures for improvement.
Do: Implement the planned solution, test the results, and collect data for evaluation.
Check: Compare the actual results with the expected results, identify the gaps and deviations, and analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of the solution.
Act: Take corrective or preventive actions to close the gaps and prevent recurrence, standardize the solution, and communicate and document the lessons learned. The Deming Cycle is a dynamic and iterative process that can be applied to any type of process, product, or service. The cycle helps to ensure that the improvement is based on facts and data, and that the improvement is monitored and evaluated for further improvement. The Deming Cycle is also aligned with the structure and content of ISO 22301, the international standard for business continuity management systems (BCMS). ISO 22301 follows the Plan-Do-Check-Act approach to establish, implement, maintain, and improve a BCMS that enables an organization to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptive incidents2. References:
PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) Cycle in ISO 9001 Requirements – Advisera
ISO 22301:2019 – NQA, page 9

Explanation
The document that is owned by executive management and sets the purpose of BCM in an organization is the Business Continuity Policy. The Business Continuity Policy is a high-level document that defines the scope, objectives, principles, and roles and responsibilities for business continuity management within the organization. It also demonstrates the commitment of top management to support and continually improve the BCMS. The Business Continuity Policy is one of the mandatory documents required by ISO 22301, the international standard for BCMS12.
The other options are not correct because they are not documents that are owned by executive management and set the purpose of BCM in an organization. A Business Process Policy is a document that describes the procedures and rules for performing a specific business process, such as procurement, sales, or accounting. A Register is a document that records and tracks the status of certain items, such as risks, incidents, or assets. A Worksheet is a document that contains data and calculations, such as a spreadsheet or a form.
References: 1: ISO 22301:2019, Security and resilience – Business continuity management systems – Requirements, 5.3 2: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 2.2.2

Explanation
According to ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 3.2.1, people-oriented objectives are the objectives that are related to shaping the attitudes, behaviours, and skills of individuals within the organization. These objectives aim to enhance the awareness, competence, and commitment of the personnel involved in the business continuity management system (BCMS). Some examples of people-oriented objectives are:
To increase the level of business continuity awareness among all employees by conducting regular training and awareness sessions.
To ensure that all business continuity roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and communicated to the relevant personnel.
To develop and maintain the necessary skills and knowledge for performing business continuity tasks and activities.
To foster a culture of business continuity within the organization that encourages participation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
People-oriented objectives are important for ensuring that the organization has the human resources required for implementing and maintaining the BCMS, and for achieving the desired business continuity performance and results. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 3.2.1.

Explanation
The scope of the business continuity management system (BCMS) is the statement that defines the boundaries and applicability of the BCMS. It specifies which products, services, processes, locations, and organizational units are covered by the BCMS, as well as any exclusions or limitations. The scope should document and explain any exclusions, which are the products, services, or processes that are not within the scope of the BCMS. Exclusions may be justified for various reasons, such as:
The products, services, or processes are not critical to the organization’s operations and objectives.
The products, services, or processes are already covered by other management systems or plans.
The products, services, or processes are outside the organization’s control or influence.
The products, services, or processes are not relevant or applicable to the organization’s context or needs.
However, the exclusions should not affect the organization’s ability to provide products and services that meet the requirements and expectations of its interested parties. The exclusions should also not compromise the conformity of the BCMS with the requirements of ISO 22301, the international standard for business continuity management systems. The scope and the exclusions should be documented in a clear and concise manner, and communicated to all relevant stakeholders. The scope and the exclusions should also be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect the changing circumstances and needs of the organization. References:
ISO 22301:2019 – Security and resilience – Business continuity management systems – Requirements, Clause 4.3: Determining the scope of the business continuity management system1 ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 3: Business Continuity Integration, Section 3.1: Business Continuity Integration Levels2 ISO 22301 Clause 4.3 Determining the Scope of the Business Continuity Management System3

Explanation
Leadership stresses the importance of executive support for the BCMS, as it is one of the key factors for the success of the system. According to the ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, leadership is the process of influencing and directing people to achieve the organization’s business continuity objectives. Leadership involves setting the vision, direction, and strategy for the BCMS, as well as providing the necessary resources, support, and communication to implement and maintain the system. Executive support refers to the commitment and involvement of the top management in the BCMS. Executive support ensures that the BCMS is aligned with the organization’s overall strategy and objectives, and that it receives the adequate attention, budget, and resources it needs. Executive support also ensures that the BCMS is integrated into the organization’s culture and values, and that it is communicated to all relevant parties, such as employees, customers, suppliers, regulators, and the public. Executive support can create a positive impact on the organization’s resilience and reputation, as it demonstrates the organization’s readiness and capability to respond to and recover from disruptive incidents. Leadership and executive support are closely related and mutually reinforcing.
Leadership requires executive support to establish and sustain the BCMS, and executive support requires leadership to guide and direct the BCMS. Without leadership and executive support, the BCMS may not be effective, efficient, or consistent, and may not achieve the desired outcomes. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, pages 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27.

Explanation
Business Impact Analysis (BIA) is a process of identifying and evaluating the potential impacts of disruptions to critical business processes, systems, and resources. One of the objectives of BIA is to validate the dependencies of the organization’s essential functions and operations. Dependencies are the relationships or interconnections between the organization and its internal or external stakeholders, such as suppliers, customers, partners, regulators, etc. Dependencies can affect the organization’s ability to deliver its products and services, and therefore, they need to be considered in the BIA process. According to ISO/TS 22317:2021, there are two types of dependencies that are validated by BIA: internal dependencies and external dependencies1. Internal dependencies are the dependencies within the organization, such as between different functions, processes, activities, resources, or locations. For example, a production function may depend on the supply of raw materials from a warehouse, or a finance function may depend on the availability of an accounting system. Internal dependencies can be identified by analyzing the inputs and outputs of each function or process, and the resources required to support them. External dependencies are the dependencies outside the organization, such as with suppliers, customers, partners, regulators, or other stakeholders. For example, a retail company may depend on the delivery of goods from its suppliers, or a bank may depend on the compliance with regulatory requirements. External dependencies can be identified by analyzing the contracts, agreements, or expectations with the external parties, and the potential impacts of their failure or disruption. References:
ISO/TS 22317:2021, clause 6.3.2

Explanation
Supporting functions are the functions that provide support to the critical functions of an organization, such as human resources, finance, IT, or facilities management. Supporting functions are essential for the continuity of the critical functions, but they are not directly involved in delivering the products or services to the customers.
Supporting functions are also part of the scope of the business continuity management system (BCMS) and need to be identified, analyzed, and protected by the organization. Supporting functions are one of the key concepts of ISO 22301, as they help the organization to determine its business continuity requirements and strategies. References: ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, page 23 1; ISO 22301:2019, clause 8.2.2 2

Explanation
Non-compliance can often lead to undesirable outcomes. Non-compliance means the failure or refusal to comply with the requirements and expectations of a standard, regulation, contract, policy, or other obligation.
Non-compliance can have negative consequences for an organization, such as:
Legal penalties: Non-compliance can result in fines, sanctions, lawsuits, or criminal charges from the authorities or other parties that have the power to enforce the compliance. For example, non-compliance with data protection laws can lead to hefty fines and reputational damage for the organization.
Loss of trust: Non-compliance can erode the confidence and trust of the stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers, employees, investors, regulators, etc. This can affect the organization’s reputation, credibility, and competitiveness in the market. For example, non-compliance with quality standards can lead to customer dissatisfaction and defection.
Loss of business: Non-compliance can cause the organization to lose business opportunities, contracts, or partnerships with other organizations that require or expect compliance. For example, non-compliance with environmental standards can prevent the organization from entering certain markets or sectors that have strict sustainability criteria.
Loss of continuity: Non-compliance can expose the organization to increased risks and vulnerabilities that can disrupt its operations and performance. For example, non-compliance with business continuity standards can impair the organization’s ability to respond to and recover from disruptive incidents, such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, supply chain failures, etc.
Therefore, non-compliance can often lead to undesirable outcomes that can harm the organization’s interests, objectives, and values. To avoid these outcomes, the organization should establish, implement, and maintain a compliance management system that ensures the organization’s adherence to the relevant standards, regulations, contracts, policies, and other obligations. The compliance management system should also include mechanisms for monitoring, measuring, reviewing, and improving the organization’s compliance performance and effectiveness. References:
ISO 19600:2014 – Compliance management systems – Guidelines1
ISO 22301 Auditing eBook, Chapter 5: Audit Process, Section 5.2: Audit Objectives2 ISO 22301:2019 – Security and resilience – Business continuity management systems – Requirements, Clause 9.1: Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation3