readings icon presentation iconquiz iconresources icon

Risk Management

Overview

In these matters the only certainty is that nothing is certain.

(Plinius the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus) c. 23-79BC)

This topic introduces the concept of risk management and analysis. Risk management is best defined as:

The chance of an uncertainty happening that will have an impact on objectives. It is measured in terms of a combination of the likelihood of a risk event and its consequences. ( Standards Australia 's AS/NZS 4360:2004 Risk management and HB436:2004 Risk management guidelines (August 2004) available from http://www.standards.org.au/ ).

Risk analysis and assessment deals with as:

A systematic approach for describing and/or calculating risk. Risk analysis involves the identification of undesired events, and the causes and consequences of these events ( http://www.nr.no/~abie/RiskAnalysis.htm ).

In this topic we concentrate on how managers can use standards to guide the management of risk. We will provide readings and links to online tutorials on risk management under the Australian and New Zealand Standards on Risk Management AS/NZS 4360:2004. This will provide a basis for even the most novice manager to begin to develop a systematic approach to identifying, analysing, evaluating, treating, monitoring and communicating risk.

Learning objectives

After completing the work for this chapter you should be able to:

Select topics

Next Page next page arrow