Identify process 34/2/2023 As such, employees are one of the most valuable resources in identifying risks.Īll employees, especially key stakeholders, may have some insight on risks that they encounter in in day-to-day business practices that you would not have otherwise considered. Seek employee feedback regularlyĮveryone from the frontline staff to the CEO will have a different perspective of the organization and the risks they come across while performing their job. Any losses, risk management successes, news releases, or even legal precedents can help you identify the same types of risks in your organization. You can also pay attention to your competitors or companies similar to yours. They could access industry research or trend reports that will highlight common risks. Professional organizations may be able to provide expert insight on the risks typically found in organizations similar to yours. Unless you are an organization in a brand new industry, you can learn a lot about identifying risks from those who have gone before you. Conduct external researchĮvery industry has its own unique trends and common occurrences. Incidents and near-misses are key indicators of problem areas that need to be addressed by the risk management team. With data and trend analysis, you can identify the root causes of occurrences. Abnormally high costs in one department may also suggest an unmitigated risk. With simple observation, you may be able to recognize areas where things are not being done correctly. If you manage your own claims and losses or have employees that work closely with them, you can perform internal research to identify risks across the organization. They can also advise and identify financial risk throughout the organization. Similarly, accountants and financial advisors will have insight on the types of payments you are repeatedly making. If they do not provide this assessment service, they are probably able to recommend a good consultant who can. Brokers can also play a role in helping you to assess your business risks and recommending insurance coverage to help protect you against them in case they occur. If you experience the same type of losses multiple times, it suggests there’s a risk that is improperly managed. Insurance brokers know your claim history, which means they can provide insight on trends. You likely already have relationships with multiple people that could help you identify risks, such as your insurance broker, accountant, or financial advisor. Challenge all of your assumptions about potential risks, and be prepared for any or all of them to occur. What is the worst thing that could happen to your organization? If there was a day where everything went wrong, what would that sequence of events look like? While being overly pessimistic may not be the best way to run a business, it’s incredibly helpful when identifying risks.Īt this stage, it’s important to avoid overconfidence and thinking something “can’t” or “won’t” happen. For example, is your manufacturing process fully safe? Are all your employees properly trained? What would happen if you lost your biggest customer? If a serious incident occurred, would you know how to handle it and who was responsible? If you think of a question like this that you cannot answer, it represents a risk that needs to be better managed. Break down your organization into each of these areas, and consider the individual weaknesses of each department.Īsking yourself insightful questions can reveal weaknesses in your organization that you may not have considered. There are many categories: competitive, financial, safety, operational, technological, legal, political, reputational, and so on. What are the most obvious things that could go wrong in your company or industry? These can be based on your business strategy and daily activities. When beginning the risk management process, identifying risks can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are some strategies you can turn to for help: 8 Ways to Identify Risks in Your Organization 1. This can be a daunting task, especially for new businesses that don’t have years of experience and history to rely on. You will need to make a list of all the specific risks that could impact your organization. The first step in this process, and one of the most important, is identifying your risks. Over time, you develop procedures to make sure things don’t go wrong and put plans in place to reduce organizational impact if they do.Ĭreating a risk management plan is simply about formalizing that process and being able to devote your resources more effectively. Even if you don’t realize it, you’re probably employing some kind of risk management in your organization.
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