dealing with new and emerging risks in an ever changing world paul j. sobel vice president/chief...
TRANSCRIPT
Dealing with New and Emerging Risks in an Ever Changing World
Paul J. Sobel
Vice President/Chief Audit Executive – Georgia-Pacific, LLC
Vice Chair – Professional Development for The Institute of Internal Auditors
Presentation OutlineThe Changing World
Impact of Emerging Risks
Evolving Risk Assessment Approach
Dealing with Risks in a Dynamic Business World
Summary
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The Changing World Global and organizational change Stressed financial structure and cash availability Bankruptcy and restructuring Fraud from many fronts Legislative imperatives and pressure Technological innovation Competition for market share Shareholders demanding increased accountability Client’s changing expectations Pressure/expectations from stakeholders and citizens Strategic alliances Mergers and acquisitions
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Impact of Emerging RisksNew risks keep emerging
Risk interdependencies are creating almost unimaginable risk scenarios
Speed of change has rendered static, annual risk assessments almost meaningless
There seems to be very little tolerance for ineffective risk management
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Evolution of Risk Assessments
In the 1980’s a formal risk assessment was an uncommon, somewhat unsophisticated practice
In the 1990’s risk assessment became a “leading practice”◦ While it was more structured and sophisticated, it
still left many “blind spots”
In the early 2000’s, annual risk assessments were a standard practice◦ Some were updating risk assessments more
frequently◦ Still had “blind spot” issues
The financial crisis beginning in 2008 caused many to question the value of risk assessments
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Risk Identification ApproachContinually scan the risk environment
◦ Check available public documents◦ Search for specialist publications
A lot of good stuff from outside the United States
◦ Deeper knowledge sharing with competitors
Brainstorm previously unimaginable risk scenarios◦ Disciplined structured process
Embedded in strategic planning (60% of failures relate to strategic risks)
◦ Extensive consideration of interdependent risks◦ May need to bring in specialists (e.g., economists,
analysts, deal makers, regulatory experts)
Consistently challenge the completeness and veracity of all risk assumptions
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Risk Assessment – The Past
Traditionally focused on Impact and Likelihood
Tends to be single point outcomes as opposed to range of outcomes
A good foundation, but is it robust enough in today’s business world?
LIKELIHOOD
IMPACT
Remote Possible Probable
High
Low
Medium
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Other Risk Assessment FactorsVelocityReadinessCapacityControllabilityMonitorability InterdependenciesFrequency of occurrenceVolatilityMaturityDegree of confidence
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Risk VelocityThis has become the risk assessment
“criteria du jour;” however, there are different types of velocity
Speed of onset◦ How quickly does the risk descend upon us?◦ Do we have much warning?
Speed of impact◦ Do we feel the effects right away, or does the pain
slowly increase?◦ Does it spread and impact us in other ways; e.g.
reputation?
Speed of reaction◦ Even if we see it coming, do we have the agility to
timely react?9
Risk ReadinessGiven that risk represents
uncertainty, how ready are we to deal with a risk event?
Focus is on an organization’s ability to:◦ Recognize the onset of the risk◦ Respond timely and effectively
Must also consider 3rd parties’ ability to respond timely and effectively
Risk readiness is really the response part of the risk velocity criteria 10
Risk CapacityDecisions regarding risk readiness
must consider an organization’s capacity to absorb or take on risk
First consider organization’s appetite and tolerance for the risk outcomes (before sustainability is impacted)◦ Resilience to consequences◦ Cost/pain to manage
Also consider recovery time – i.e., how long until the outcomes/effects are no longer felt
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Controllability – Do we even have the ability to mitigate/control the risk?
Monitorability – Can we monitor:◦ Risk signposts to anticipate risk onset?◦ Risk impact to understand how much
we’re bleeding?
Interdependencies with other risks◦ Vulnerability to other risks being triggered◦ Correlation with other risks (Charles
Kindleberger)
Other Risk Characteristics
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Frequency of Occurrence – Will a risk occurrence likely be a single event or will it occur multiple times?
Risk Volatility – Does the risk lend itself to an infrequent assessment (e.g., annually) or should it be re-assessed on a regular basis?
Risk Management Maturity – Is our risk management mature enough to trust our initial reaction to a risk event?
Degree of Confidence – How confident are we in our risk assessment judgments?
Other Risk Characteristics
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How Do You Make Sense of all This Information?
Mapping Multiple Dimensions Won’t Work!
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A Possible Approach?
1. Start with traditional impact/likelihood assessment
2. Determine which Other Risk Assessment Factors are relevant and meaningful
3. Assess whether those factors will significantly, moderately or negligibly affect:• How the risk is managed• How the risk is prioritized relative to
other risks• How the risk is monitored and reported
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One Example
Risk Impact Likelihood Factor A Factor B Priority
AAA High High 1
BBB High Medium 2
CCC Medium High 3
DDD High Low 4
EEE Medium Medium 5
FFF Low High 6
GGG Medium Low 7
HHH Low Medium 8
III Low Low 9
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One Example
Risk Impact Likelihood Factor A Factor B Priority
AAA High High 1
BBB High Medium 3
CCC Medium High 5
DDD High Low 2
EEE Medium Medium 4
FFF Low High 6
GGG Medium Low 8
HHH Low Medium 7
III Low Low 9
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A Few Cautions
Don’t make it too formulaic – it’s still primarily about judgments!
Never lose sight of the fact that risk assessment must tie back to strategy
Plan ahead for how you’ll respond to significant risk events◦ Decisive decision vs. consensus building◦ Initial response may differ from long-term
response
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Dealing with Risks in a Dynamic Business WorldNo one-size-fits-all or simple answersStarts with good risk information
◦ Identify risk events early◦ Initiate risk actions quickly◦ Monitor effectiveness of risk actions
Must have a good escalation process◦ Who needs what information and when?
Don’t just treat the symptoms; cure the disease
Be flexible to change; don’t become too attached to what worked in the past
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In SummaryWe live in a dynamic, ever changing
business world◦ The speed of change will continue to increase◦ The impact of mistakes will become even greater
Identifying possible emerging risk scenarios will be critical to success◦ In particular, scenarios among interdependent risks
Risk assessment must consider criteria beyond Impact and Likelihood◦ But don’t make it too complex; it’s still about
judgments
Dealing with risk events requires a structured and disciplined approach; an ad hoc, reactionary approach won’t cut it
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