States and UI actions for a BCP

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  • Updated March 12, 2026
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    Summary of States and UI actions for a BCP

    This documentation explains the states and corresponding user interface (UI) actions available when managing a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) within ServiceNow's Business Continuity Management module. Understanding these states and UI actions enables you to effectively create, review, approve, manage, and archive BCPs, ensuring a structured lifecycle for your continuity planning.

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    BCP States and Associated UI Actions

    • Draft: When you create a new BCP, it starts in the Draft state. You can add detailed information across various tabs such as Scope, Documentation, Related Plans, Recovery Teams, Loss Scenarios, and Recovery Tasks. This state allows full editing.
    • In review: Use the Submit for review action to move the BCP into the In review state for initial evaluation.
    • Pending approval: After review, select Submit for approval to advance the BCP to the Pending approval state, indicating it awaits final approval.
    • Approved: Selecting Approve moves the BCP into the Approved state. At this point, the plan is finalized and cannot be edited further. The Overview tab displays the progression of states.
    • Archived: You can archive an Approved BCP by selecting Archive. From BCM release 9.0.x onward, archived BCPs can be reverted back to Draft using the Edit button, allowing further modifications.
    • Returned: If a BCP is rejected during review or approval, selecting Reject sets its state to Returned. The plan remains editable in this state.

    Additional UI Actions and Functionalities

    • Generate PDF: Create a PDF version of the BCP for offline reference. The PDF is accessible in the Activity panel of the Details tab.
    • Copy: Save a copy of the BCP PDF as a template for future plans.
    • 360º view: Visualize comprehensive relationships of the BCP including its name, scope, related plans, and tasks to gain a holistic understanding.
    • Delete: Remove the BCP entirely if no longer needed.
    • Edit and Save: Modify and save changes to the BCP when in editable states such as Draft or Returned.

    BCP State Lifecycle Management

    The BCP’s lifecycle is tracked and managed on the plan’s Overview tab, showing a progression through states labeled as In progress (current) and Upcoming (future). You can advance the BCP through states using the Submit for review and Submit for approval buttons located in the plan header, ensuring a controlled and auditable workflow.

    When you create a business continuity plan (BCP), certain UI actions are associated with each state.

    States and UI actions associated with a plan

    UI actions and their associated states for a business continuity plan are described in the table.

    Table 1. UI actions and States associated with a plan
    Updated state of the BCP UI action Description
    Draft

    In business continuity plan record Lists view, select New.

    You can also navigate to the Planning section of the Home page and select Create BIA.

    When you select New in the Create New Plan form or Create BIA in the Home page, a record is created in the Draft state by default.

    On the Details tab, add details of the business continuity plan. Add details on the tabs:
    • Scope
    • Documentation
    • Related plans
    • Recovery teams
    • Loss scenarios
    • Recovery tasks
    In review Select Submit for review.

    When you select Submit for review in the Create New Plan form, the state of the business continuity plan is updated to In review.
    Pending approval Select Submit for approval.

    When you select Submit for approval in the Create New Plan form, the state of the business continuity plan is updated to Pending approval.
    Approved Select Approve.

    When you select Approve in the Create New Plan form, the state of the business continuity plan is updated to Approved. The Overview tab displays the progression of the states for the business continuity plan.

    When the business continuity plan is in the Approved state, you cannot edit it further.
    Archived In the Create New Plan form, select Archive.

    When you select Archive in the Create New Plan form, the state of the business continuity plan is updated to Archived.

    Starting with BCM release 9.0.x, you can revert an archived business continuity plan (BCP) to the Draft state by selecting the Edit button on the form.

    You can perform additional UI actions in the Create New Plan form:
    Generate PDF

    Download the PDF of the business continuity plan for reference. The PDF attachment is available in the Activity panel of the Details tab.

    For information on generating the PDF of a business impact analysis, see Generate BCP reports in PDF or Microsoft Word format.

    Copy
    Save a copy of the PDF of the business impact analysis for future reference as a template.
    360º view
    Visualize the 360º representation of the business continuity plan such as its name, scope, related plans, and related tasks. To view 360º relationships of a business continuity plan, see Visualize 360° relationships for the BCP.
    Delete
    Delete the continuity plan.
    Edit
    Edit the business continuity plan.
    Save
    Save the business continuity plan.
    Returned Select Reject.

    When the BCP is rejected, it is set to Returned. You can edit the business continuity plan in the Returned state.