A method for combined risk and continuity management in a municipal context

This paper presents a method for municipal Risk and Vulnerability Analysis which has been developed in an action research process together with a Swedish. The method combines aspects of both conti-nuity and risk management in order to exploit their strengths and avoid their limitations. It is developed to be applicable by municipal departments, i.e. a sub-part of the municipal organisations which has some type of sectorial responsibility, with the main emphasis on how to ensure that their most critical functions can be con-tinued also when they are exposed to threats and disturbances. Parts of the method, which is still in its devel-opment phase, have been applied in a pilot study in order to get feedback for further refinements. It is con-cluded that the method shows promise and is also likely to be applicable to other municipalities facing similar problems and challenges