TDNet Discover

The purpose of this action research study is to develop and evaluate a business continuity planning framework to enhance organizational resilience for employees at Erin’s Elderberries. Organizational resilience will be defined as the organization’s ability to maintain operations, transfer knowledge effectively, and adapt to disruptions through structured systems such as documentation and cross-training. The problem of practice driving this study is the reliance on centralized leadership and undocumented processes within Erin’s Elderberries, which limits consistent knowledge transfer and operational continuity during periods of growth or disruption. This study is guided by Organizational Resilience Theory, Adaptive Leadership Theory, and the Resource-Based View, which emphasize internal capabilities, leadership adaptability, and strategic resource use during disruption. The primary research question asks how the implementation of business continuity planning impacts organizational resilience within a founder-led small business. This study will be conducted within Erin’s Elderberries, a small business that includes manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, and community-based operations, with approximately 20 employees. Data collection methods will include a researcher-developed Likert-scale survey administered pre- and post-intervention, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and organizational document review. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired comparisons, and qualitative data through thematic analysis. The anticipated results are expected to demonstrate that implementing structured documentation, cross-training, and continuity planning will improve operational consistency, reduce reliance on centralized leadership, and strengthen employee preparedness for disruptions.