A frequently asked question“Why do you insist on using a risk (identification) model as the basis for risk management? We can easily do this without a model” It’s a question that comes up on occasion when I am teaching risk management or executing a risk assessment. It’s a relevant question. I’ve put together 5 good … Continue reading 5 reasons for using a risk (identification) model
Category: Stream of Consciousness
Working with inherent and residual risk
The internal audit perspectiveTo an internal auditor, a risk analysis is relevant because it provides information on the priorities within an audit universe. The auditor will look at all he has right to audit (the audit universe) and ask himself where his task, providing assurance, is best executed. You need to think this through: it’s … Continue reading Working with inherent and residual risk
Obsession without voice, or voice without obsession
What’s this about voice and obsession?I’m referring to the 2009 SXSW talk by John Gruber of Daring Fireball and Merlin Mann of (amongst others) 43Folders fame, which I recently discovered via Yuvi Zalkow’s excellent visualisation on his blog. The post below, for your information, is a curated version of a post I did a couple … Continue reading Obsession without voice, or voice without obsession
Public sector performance enhancement
Let’s not get run over againThere are quite a few performance enhancing methodologies for administrations available on the market today. Most have not proven to be that successful all the time. However, under pressure to enhance performance, the public servants hope if or rather when someone turns government around, they don’t get run over again.Potential … Continue reading Public sector performance enhancement
You are already managing risks
How do we start to manage our risks?It’s an often heard question when talking to organizations about risk management. The honest answer to that is that most organizations already manage risk. It’s often just not called risk management. Risk management by any other nameLet’s look at a number of examples of risk management which are … Continue reading You are already managing risks
Visiting the home of the maker of Toys
First time visitorEven as a hardcore Apple fan, I had never visited a true Apple retail store before. But did I make up for that!The maker of toysMerlin Mann, in his excellent tribute to Steve Jobs on the 5by5.tv special referred to him as the maker of toys. Visiting Apple’s London Regent Street retail store … Continue reading Visiting the home of the maker of Toys
Witnessing the Occupy movement in London
An accidental witnessWhen you're staying as close to St. Paul's Cathedral as we are, it's impossible to not see the 'occupation' of the square in front op the Cathedral's main entrance. When we went out looking for a taxi last night, we passed through a veritable crowd of people. I've posted a picture below. The … Continue reading Witnessing the Occupy movement in London
Sense and nonsense of risk maturity assessments
Can you “manage” maturity?Maturity assessments are the new fad of management. You encounter them everywhere. Also, and perhaps most often, in risk management. Risk management and internal control systems need to be assessed and benchmarked and turned upside down and inside out. These tendencies appear to be indicative of an overly strong desire for micro … Continue reading Sense and nonsense of risk maturity assessments
When tools distract from purpose
Looking for a purpose is probably the worst way to find itThe more I look at the way I have been active in the past years, the more I am starting to understand you cannot discover your purpose in life by looking for it. On the contrary, the act of looking for your purpose will … Continue reading When tools distract from purpose
Improving organizational leanness
Lean is not a natural state for most organizationsFew organizations can truely be defined as lean. They have no real incentive to be. Most organizations, when left to their own devices, tend to grow and focus on justifying their own existence. Any organizational structure, whether public or private, if left unchecked, will try to increase … Continue reading Improving organizational leanness
Exploring The Black Box 