A global pandemic is forcing a private organization to close some business units. What would be BEST to help executives determine the next course of action?

The best option in this scenario is a business continuity plan. This plan is specifically designed to ensure that an organization can continue operating during and after a disruptive event, such as a global pandemic. It outlines how the organization can maintain critical functions, allocate resources effectively, and adapt operations to minimize the impact of disruptions on the business.

By having this plan in place, executives can make informed decisions about which business units to close, how to shift resources to maintain essential services, and what steps need to be taken to support employees and stakeholders during the transition. It focuses on maintaining essential operations rather than solely responding to incidents or recovering from disasters.

While an incident response plan deals with specific emergencies, and a disaster recovery plan focuses on restoring IT systems after a disruption, a business continuity plan encompasses overall strategy for sustaining operations in the face of a wide array of risks, making it the most appropriate choice in this context. A communications plan is also important but would not provide the comprehensive framework necessary to navigate the broader implications of the pandemic on business operations.