How to Measure Risk Appetite

August 2013 Bonus Resource

By Diana Del Bel Belluz, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.

Last fall I had the pleasure of co-presenting a session on Risk Appetite with Rob Quail of Hydro One Inc. He shared a novel approach that he documented in his article Defining Your Taste for Risk.

The article provides a scale to help people gauge their risk appetite along this continuum:

 continuum

In his article, Quail explains that risk appetite is context dependent. He then goes on to illustrate the 5-points on the risk appetite continuum along four dimensions (philosophy, tolerance for uncertainty, choice, tradeoff) that assist people to apply the scale to any particular strategic objective or risk. At the "Averse" end of the continuum, extremely conservative risk-taking and risk management behavior is expected, e.g.:

  • Philosophy: "Sacred" – avoidance of risk is a core objective
  • Tolerance for uncertainty: Extremely low
  • Choice: When faced with multiple options, will choose the one with the lowest risk, always
  • Tradeoff: Will never trade off this objective against others Will take justified risks

Whereas at the "Open" end of the continuum, a more aggressive stance is encouraged, e.g.:

  • Philosophy: Will take justified risks
  • Tolerance for uncertainty: Fully anticipate uncertainty or volatility in results
  • Choice: When faced with multiple options, will choose the one with the highest return and accept the possibility of failure
  • Tradeoff: Willing to trade off this objective against others

Of course, each organization must customize its own scale to reflect its particular business context. The scale is a key tool to:

  1. Define the target risk appetite with your executive leadership team and board. This sets out the expectations for risk-taking behavior.
  2. Measure the actual risk appetite and identify any gaps between exhibited and desired levels.
  3. Evaluate and align risk appetite across the organization to enhance performance.

 

Don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity to discuss your risk appetite challenges with the experts

Rob will be one of the featured speakers at the Risk Appetite Seminar hosted by Risk Wise on November 14th in Toronto. The seminar agenda includes a live simulation that brings to life the key concepts in Rob's article, an opportunity to discuss your risk appetite challenges with Rob and other executives fwho have implemented risk appetite concepts in their organizations. For information on the seminar, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.?subject=Request%20for%20Information%20on%20Seminar">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our Events page.

Follow the links to:

Read this month's Feature Article - Creating a Healthy ERM Culture – Part 4

Download a printable version of the entire August 2013 issue of the Risk Management Made Simple Advisory.

View the Article Index to access back issues of the Risk Management Made Simple Advisory.

Current Special Offers for Subscribers

Current Special Offers for Subscribers

The codes to access the following special offers have been emailed to all Risk Management Made Simple Advisory subscribers:

  • SPECIAL OFFER: $460 off the full conference fee for Risk Management Made Simple Advisory subscribers on the Resilience 2017 to be held on April 24-26, 2017 in Edmonton, AB. (Subscribers have been sent the instructions on how to access this offer).  Not yet a subscriber?  Don't miss out, click here to sign-up for your complimentary Advisory subscription.

  • SPECIAL OFFER: $150 off the full conference fee for Risk Management Made Simple Advisory subscribers on the Canadian Privacy Summit 2017 to be held on May 2-3, 2017 in Toronto, ON. (Subscribers have been sent the instructions on how to access this offer).  Not yet a subscriber?  Don't miss out, click here to sign-up for your complimentary Advisory subscription.

Not yet a subscriber, but want to access these special offers?

When you subscribe to the Advisory, we'll send you the code for all current special offers along with a link to your New Subscriber Bonus, a copy of Moving Beyond the Risk Map to Operational Vigilance.

FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF why risk management leaders subscribe, click to access the ARTICLE INDEX of all past issues of the Risk Management Made Simple Advisory.

"I save and study each issue of the Advisory. I appreciate how Diana gives very practical advice and links it to fundamental theories and best practices." 

Sherrie Hyde, Risk Manager, Lutherwood

Current Special Offers for Subscribers

The code to access the following special offer has been emailed to all Risk Management Made Simple Advisory subscribers:

  • SPECIAL OFFER: $460 off the full conference fee for Risk Management Made Simple Advisory subscribers on the Resilience 2017 to be held on April 24-26, 2017 in Edmonton, AB. (Subscribers have been sent the instructions on how to access this offer).  Not yet a subscriber?  Don't miss out, click here to sign-up for your complimentary Advisory subscription.

  • SPECIAL OFFER: $150 off the full conference fee for Risk Management Made Simple Advisory subscribers on the Canadian Privacy Summit 2017 to be held on May 2-3, 2017 in Toronto, ON. (Subscribers have been sent the instructions on how to access this offer).  Not yet a subscriber?  Don't miss out, click here to sign-up for your complimentary Advisory subscription.

Not yet a subscriber, but want to access these special offers?

When you subscribe to the Advisory, we'll send you the code for all current special offers along with a link to your New Subscriber Bonus, a copy of Moving Beyond the Risk Map to Operational Vigilance.

FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF why risk management leaders subscribe, click to access the ARTICLE INDEX of all past issues of the Risk Management Made Simple Advisory.

"I save and study each issue of the Advisory. I appreciate how Diana gives very practical advice and links it to fundamental theories and best practices." 

Sherrie Hyde, Risk Manager, Lutherwood

FREE DOWNLOAD

Moving Beyond the Risk Map to Operational Vigilance

Read more about the Risk Management Made Simple Advisory.

"It is so refreshing to read a newsletter that offers real solutions for risk management challenges."
Cathy Taylor
Director, Risk
Kinross Gold Corporation

Jump Start your risk management program.

Receive personalized advice from Risk Wise

See Details

Diana's Pick

Neuroscience and the Nonprofit Manager (written by Andy  Segedin and published in the NonProfit Times) shares some of the tips on how to counteract common biases and habits that impede effective decisions.

The article is based on a workshop that Diana Del Bel Belluz of Risk Wise presented at the 2015 Risk Summit organized by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center.