Business as usual (business)

This article is about the business practice. For other meanings, see Business as usual.

Business as usual (BAU), the normal execution of standard functional operations within an organisation, forms a possible contrast to projects or programmes which might introduce change. BAU may also stand in contradistinction to external events which may have the effect of unsettling or distracting those inside an organisation. A "business as usual" (BAU) model represents an organization's or system's standard, ongoing operations and current trajectories, contrasting with projects or radical changes, often serving as a baseline to forecast impacts of continuing current trends, especially in sustainability, projecting continued emissions or resource use without significant intervention. It encompasses routine tasks (customer service, accounting, maintenance) that keep a business running but also models a future with existing practices, often leading to severe climate or resource issues if no mitigation occurs. In Operations & Management Definition: The regular, day-to-day activities (e.g., answering emails, processing orders, IT support) that maintain an organization's function. Contrast: Different from temporary projects with specific goals, BAU is the continuous work that sustains the company. In Sustainability & Climate Modeling Definition: A scenario assuming no new climate policies or significant changes in behavior, continuing fossil fuel reliance and current emission rates. Purpose: Used in climate models (like IPCC scenarios) to show severe future impacts (e.g., 3°C+ warming, extreme weather) from inaction, helping to justify transformative action. Example: A university's BAU forecast projects energy needs and emissions if its current systems and growth patterns continue, versus a sustainable pathway. Key Characteristics of BAU Baseline: Establishes a starting point for comparison. Cumulative Change: Involves ongoing, incremental changes (like population growth or infrastructure wear) rather than sudden shifts. Status Quo: Represents the continuation of established practices, often with inherent risks.

Goals

In business continuity planning, organizations aim to maintain critical business functions during disruptions and resume normal operations with minimal downtime.

In climatology

"Business as usual" is a phrase frequently used in climate change studies to warn of the dangers of not implementing changes to prevent the world from warming further.

See also

• Conceptual framework