Examining Factors Associated with IT Disaster Preparedness

Abstract

Despite its importance, IT disaster recovery and preparedness remains an under researched topic. The purpose of this paper is to explore variables associated with different levels of disaster preparedness. Evidence from a survey of U.S. organizations supports the notion of viewing disaster recovery in a strategic role where organizational commitment and support are critical for all levels of preparedness. In companies that are not legally obligated to have a disaster recovery plan, a more innovative technology strategy was significantly related to greater disaster preparedness. Finally, the role of top management resistance was evident in a comparison of organizations that regularly updated their plans versus those that did not. The research also showed the need for an approach that links disaster recovery planning research to specific business strategies and objectives when examining reliance on IT. Both operational as well as strategic reliance were significant antecedents of disaster preparedness in this study.