WSJ: Executives Report Inadequate Risk Management

Steven Minsky | Aug. 13, 2014

Despite reports that more than 65% of organizations have adopted Enterprise Risk Management, executives remain unimpressed and skeptical of the value their ERM programs are providing versus what is needed.

A new report by APQC finds that fewer than 1 in 5 executives say their companies are effectively managing emerging risk, and the report’s authors worry that “Companies may be ‘checking the boxes’ that say they have processes to monitor strategic risks.”[1]

Additionally, two in three companies said they did not have a method of ensuring that strategic risks are incorporated into the organization’s strategic planning process, and 43% do not have confidence in their method of reporting to the board.

Why the large discrepancy between companies that have adopted ERM and those that are realizing value from ERM implementation? Part of the problem is that risk managers are spending their time on the wrong things. The second issue is that board members, unclear about the methods and value of ERM, are wary of empowering their risk managers to take action.

Risk Managers need to break the cycle of form over substance ERM in order to meet leadership requirements and deliver on ERM expectations within their organizations. The benefits are two-fold. Effective risk management tools directly contribute to the bottom line value of an organization. ERM programs must measurably deliver on the Board’s key concerns, and an ERM program must deliver small successes quarterly to provide confidence to leadership that goals are being achieved. This confidence reflects positively back on the risk managers responsible for providing transparency and brings increased engagement. Risk management software can assist in that process by providing a framework for your risk intelligence, aggregating only what’s relevant to the particular topic that’s of interest.


[1] Chasan, Emily. Corporate Risk Management Is Only Going Half Way: Survey. Wall Street Journal. July 3, 2014. Online. https://blogs.wsj.com/cfo/2014/07/03/corporate-risk-management-is-only-going-half-way-survey/?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_cfo

Report to the Board

Get some tips on reporting on risk management to the board in this eBook!