Melsoft Study

There are five principal risk mitigation strategies. Of course, each one serves a different purpose for different businesses. It becomes a subjective matter to decide how to approach risk. However, with the use of risk management software and risk assessment matrices, you can be better prepared to assess, monitor and manage risk. Let’s take a look at the main strategies: 1. Risk Acceptance: Risk acceptance comes down to “risking it.” It’s coming to terms that the risk exists and there is nothing you will do to mitigate or change it. Instead, it understands the probability of it happening and accepting the consequences that may occur. This is the best strategy when risk is small or unlikely to happen. It makes sense to adopt risk when the cost of mitigating or avoiding it will be higher than merely accepting it and leaving it to chance. 2. Risk Avoidance: If a risk from starting a project, launching a product, moving your business, etc. is too large to accept, it may be better to avoid it. In this case, risk avoidance means not performing that activity that causes the risk. Managing risk in this way is most like how people address personal risks. While some people are more risk-loving and others are more risk-averse, everyone has a tipping point at which things become just too risky and not worth attempting. 3. Risk Mitigation: When risks are evaluated, some risks are better not to avoid or accept. In this instance, risk mitigation is explored. Risk mitigation refers to the processes and methods of controlling risk. When you identify risk and its probability, you can allocate resources for management. 4. Risk Reduction: Businesses can assign a level at which risk is acceptable, which is called the residual risk level. Risk reduction is the most common strategy because there is usually a way to at least reduce risk. It involves taking countermeasures to decrease the impact of consequences. For example, one form of risk reduction is risk transfer, like that of buying insurance. 5. Risk Transfer: As mentioned, risk transfer involves moving the risk to another third party or entity. Risk transfers can be outsourced, moved to an insurance agency, or given to a new entity as is what happens when leasing property. Risk transfers don’t always result in lower costs. Instead, a risk transfer is the best option when it can be used to reduce future damage. So, insurance can cost money, but it may end up being more cost-effective than having the risk occur and being solely responsible for reparations. Risk Evaluation To determine the right risk mitigation strategy to take, you must evaluate risks. This involves three steps: Identification: First and foremost, you must identify and define the types of risks that your business faces. There are both internal and external risks. When identifying risks, consider if they are preventable, such as operational risks, or not avoidable like natural disasters. Impact assessment: Once you have identified risk, you can estimate their impact. This involves defining the probability that a risk will occur and its respective result or consequence. Develop strategies: Finally, you can determine the necessary strategy for those risks that are likely to happen with medium or high probability. While you may still want to monitor low risks, they are less of a priority when it comes to taking the next step and making a plan. How to Determine Risk Mitigation Plans All risks and rewards are measured differently based on your business goals. However, to adequately address risk mitigation strategies, you’ll want to consider the following: Understand the user and their needs: Know your customers and their needs. When assessing risks, consider their needs as they are the backbone of your business. Seek out experts and use them: Risk doesn’t have to be managed alone. There are both software systems and experts in the field that are there to serve as resources. Recognise risk that occurs: The worst thing you can do as a business leader is denying that risk exists because that’s not realistic or helpful to anyone. When you can recognise, define and address risk, you can better prepare your team and managers to know how to deal with the different types of risk. Encourage risk-taking: Sometimes, risk-taking is the best strategy. If your business can handle it, encourage risk-taking. To make this seem less daunting, have back-up plans and communicate them so that everyone is on the same page. Recognise opportunities: It’s possible that taking a risk can open the door to new opportunities. If you shape the conversation around risk like this, it can support a problem-solving mentality that knows how to deal with risk. Encourage consideration of mitigation options: Get everyone involved and consider feedback from your team. Everyone might have a different idea or method to mitigate risk. You can use data and analytics to assess options and choose the best path to take. Not all risks require a mitigation plan: As mentioned above, sometimes it’s best to accept risk. Understand that this is an option, and some risk doesn’t require a plan at all.

KT0502 - Mitigation tools and strategies