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Poole College of Management
Enterprise Risk Management Initiative

ERM Initiative Staff

Sep 1, 2008

Managing Risks for Comparative Advantage: Five Steps to Better Risk Management

This articles highlights a five-step process to help companies make changes to better their approach to risk management in response to the developments occurring in the corporate approach to risk management: 1. Identify and understand your major risks; 2. Decide which risks are natural; 3. Determine your capacity and appetite for risk; 4. Embed risk in all decisions and processes; and 5. Align governance and organization around risk.

Jun 1, 2008

Board-Level Risk Committees

Traditionally, senior risk executives have managed risk at the operational level of organizations. Boards have had general oversight responsibilities for risk, with audit or finance committees taking on more specific risk responsibilities. Now, with the heavy workloads of audit and finance committees and a trend towards implementing enterprise risk management (ERM) processes, many organizations are finding it beneficial to form separate board-level risk management committees. The risk content of an organization is often still addressed at the board level across many committees, while risk process is the focus of the separate risk committee.

May 1, 2008

ERM: The Importance of Senior Management Buy-In and Leadership

The Midwest Audit Committee Network met to discuss effective ways for boards and audit committees to oversee enterprise-wide risk management. The network is a group of audit committee chairs drawn from leading Midwest companies of varying size. This article captures the overall tone of the comments and outlines the conclusions drawn by the committee. While specific quotes are highlighted to emphasize a point, the speaker’s identity is kept confidential.

Sep 1, 2007

ERM in Higher Education

This document provides guidance for the embrace of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) in Higher Education. While this is not a step-by-step guide on how to implement ERM at any specific institution, it does provide a good overview of the ERM process, where to begin, and best resources available for structuring and implementing an ERM framework. The document also summarizes examples of ERM at several institutions of higher learning.

Jun 1, 2007

Risk Language

Internal Auditor published an article titled, The Language of Risk, which stresses the need for a clear risk language throughout all organizations. By using a common language, different levels of a business can communicate more effectively. Without a common risk language, lots of time can be wasted in clarifying risk issues that are miscommunicated

May 1, 2007

Tools and Techniques for Enterprise Risk Management Execution

The Institute of Management Accountants has issued a new document that summarizes tools and techniques used by businesses that have effectively implemented an ERM program. After identifying risks, businesses should focus on risk drivers and utilizing the vast number of tools currently available for managing risks. Also, the importance of an enterprise-wide approach should be considered when organizations become trapped into managing risks reactively or by use of the silo method. This document contains numerous practical tools and templates that can be adapted for a variety of organizational settings.

Apr 1, 2007

Integrating SOX and ERM- Truths and Myths

For most organizations, the efforts being made to meet compliance regulations are not tied to current ERM processes. Procedures should be put in place to integrate compliance functionality into existing risk management plans.

Nov 1, 2006

RIMS ERM Maturity Model

The Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) has recently introduced its Risk Maturity Model (RMM) to help organizations better utilize Enterprise Risk Management. The RIMS Risk Maturity Model can be used by chief risk officers and other risk practitioners as a resource to aide in planning, implementing, and benchmarking Enterprise Risk Management practices within their organizations.

Sep 25, 2006

ERM-Benefits for Strategic Planning

The Quarterly Journal of the EDS Agility Alliance recently published an article titled, Coming of Age: As Enterprise Risk Management Matures, So Does Its Value in Strategic Planning, to emphasize the rewards of ERM. Even though some senior managers still lack the broad perspective needed to deal with risk management issues, new tools have emerged and ERM has rapidly gained momentum. The Risk-Capital-Value Framework (RCV) is an example of a concept developed to help businesses manage risks.

Mar 24, 2006

Home Depot’s Approach to ERM

David Whatley, vice president for risk management at Atlanta-based Home Depot Inc., spoke on March 24th to 130 business professionals at the second of three Spring 2006 ERM Roundtables. Whatley described Home Depot’s approach to managing risks at the world’s largest home improvement retailer.