Building and Implementing a Risk Management Plan
“If you don’t invest in risk management, it doesn’t matter what business you’re in, it’s a risky business.” – Gary Cohn
Risk management has become increasingly important for businesses in the 2020s. You might have the best strategy and execution plan to scale your business, but without the right cautionary measures, all your hard work could succumb to any unforeseen obstacle.
Businesses of all sizes and industries must be proactive about identifying and addressing potential risks to help ensure long-term sustainability. Ideally, they should develop a risk management plan as early as possible.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a large budget to implement risk management. Even small businesses can do it successfully with the right mindset and resources.
Before building a plan, businesses must first understand the fundamentals of risk management and why it’s critical.
What is Risk Management?
Risk management refers to the process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks that can impact an organization’s objectives and operations. It involves systematically analyzing internal and external factors that could pose a threat to the achievement of business goals.
By implementing robust risk management practices, businesses can minimize the negative impact of risks and enhance their ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic marketplace.
Different Types of Risk in Business
There are several types of risk that can affect businesses. Here are five of the most common types:
Strategic Risk: Risks associated with strategic decisions, such as market shifts, competition, and technological advancements that may impact business strategy and goals.
Compliance Risk: Risks arising from failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards, which can lead to legal penalties, reputational damage, and loss of trust.
Operational Risk: Risks related to internal processes, systems, and human factors that can disrupt business operations, lead to financial losses, and impact customer satisfaction.
Reputational Risk: Risks associated with damage to a company’s reputation due to negative public perception, customer dissatisfaction, or ethical misconduct.
Financial Risk: Risks pertaining to financial management, including fluctuations in markets, credit, liquidity, and investment performance, which can impact profitability and stability.
Risk Management is More Important Than Ever
We’ve seen a massive increase in corporate focus on risk management in recent years. The pandemic served as a wakeup call for many who were left scrambling to figure out how to survive.
Now businesses are aware that disaster can strike at anytime, and a strategic plan alone is not enough. Strategic planning sessions focus on the direction and growth of the business. Risk management focuses on altering that plan in the case of unforeseen negative circumstances. Both are essential to running a sustainable business.
When done effectively, risk management covers areas that regular planning cannot. It minimizes financial losses, enhances decision-making, ensures business continuity in case of disruption, protects reputational value, and encourages stakeholder confidence.
Selecting a Risk Management Framework
Risk management frameworks provide a structured approach to managing risks. There are several widely recognized frameworks, each offering unique methodologies and guidelines.
Here are the four most popular risk management frameworks:
- COSO ERM: The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management framework is widely adopted across industries. It emphasizes the integration of risk management into an organization’s overall strategy and operations. COSO ERM provides a comprehensive approach to identify, assess, and respond to risks, focusing on internal control systems, risk appetite, and the alignment of risk management with business objectives. By utilizing COSO ERM, businesses can enhance risk quickly and make informed decisions to achieve sustainable success.
- ISO 31000: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 31000 standard is a globally recognized framework. It emphasizes the systematic identification, assessment, treatment, and monitoring of risks. ISO 31000 promotes a proactive and iterative approach to risk management, enabling businesses to effectively manage uncertainties, seize opportunities, and improve performance.
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework: Developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the NIST Cybersecurity Framework focuses specifically on managing cybersecurity risks and protecting critical infrastructure. It provides a flexible and customizable framework that enables organizations to assess and improve their cybersecurity posture. The framework consists of five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.
- ISO 27001: SO 27001 is an internationally recognized standard for information security management systems. It provides a systematic approach to identify, assess, and treat information security risks. It enables organizations to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their information assets while addressing associated risks comprehensively.
Building and refining your risk management strategy based on a suitable framework depends on the specific needs, industry, and risk landscape of your business. Consider adopting one or a combination of these frameworks to strengthen your risk management capabilities and mitigate potential threats effectively.
How to Build & Implement a Risk Management Plan
Using a risk management framework will help build the foundation for a risk management plan. However, customizing the plan to fit your specific business needs will require more work.
Use these steps to create, implement, and measure the effectiveness of your unique risk management plan:
- Identify Risks: Conduct a thorough assessment of potential risks, considering internal and external factors specific to your business. Create a risk register to document these.
- Assess Risks: Evaluate the potential impact and likelihood of occurrence for each identified risk. This step involves analyzing the severity of each risk and its potential consequences on your business objectives. Prioritize risks based on their significance and the resources required for mitigation.
- Develop Mitigation Strategies: Implement risk mitigation strategies, such as risk avoidance, reduction, transfer, or acceptance. Establish internal controls, contingency plans, and employee training programs.
- Monitor and Review: Continuously monitor identified risks and make adjustments to your mitigation strategies as necessary. Regularly update your risk register and utilize open communication channels for risk reporting. Data tracking software tools such as Align can help ensure upkeep of your plan, measure mitigation tactics with specific key performance indicators (KPIs), and maintain effective communication.
- Learn from Mistakes: Analyze past incidents or near-misses, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions to prevent similar risks from occurring in the future. Encourage a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
Conclusion
Building and implementing an effective risk management plan is crucial for the long-term success of businesses of any size. A comprehensive plan helps identify potential risks, assess their impact, and develop strategies to mitigate them in a time-sensitive manner.
Though risk management may seem like a daunting task for small businesses, the right framework and tools can make it easier. By taking the time to create an effective strategy tailored to your needs, you can ensure business continuity and success even when faced with unexpected threats.
