Business planning includes risk management, which involves gaining insights from internal data and external industry reports to identify potential operational risks. Business risk analysis might uncover problems such as a risk to a project deadline or a technology security problem. The first step in evaluating risks is to identify a company's core business functions.
Assessing a Firm’s Core Business Functions
To begin a risk assessment, identify the key procedures and process within your business operation. For example, an retail store has risks associated with inventory security and premise liability where issues with security and control risks might be identified through observation and testing existing procedures and processes used to manage these risks. In today’s high tech business environment, special attention is especially placed on assessing automated and technology systems for possible risks -- such as computerized cash register and inventory control systems.
Performing Business Risk Analysis
Business intelligence used by risk analysts come from workers, managers, customers, and vendors. It is also derived from a firm’s operational, environmental, and market functions. A qualitative use of business intelligence may reveal actual firm threats and vulnerabilities that require business disaster recovery planning.
Quantitative business analysis can translate business intelligence into a numerical determination of the probability of a future risk occurrence. This may be as precise as predicting a 13.5% likelihood of a particular outcome occurring under existing operating conditions. Quantitative business analysis is frequently used in the financial business markets.
Business Risk Management: Recovery Planning
A good business analyst’s report will include business continuity planning. This is the section of the business assessment report where recommendations are made. It may suggest that the firm develop and implement certain written policies and procedures or secure a particular type of business insurance coverage in light of revealed operational risk. The business continuity plan will also include a cost-benefit analysis comparison of quantitative risk factors against the costs of the business either: 1) doing nothing, 2) retraining or retooling the firm, or 3) insuring against the risk.
Business policies and procedures can correct operational vulnerabilities and ensure that a firm is in operational compliance with the law. Creating a sound employment policy and procedure, that is regularly updated to comply with applicable regulations, can save a firm on needless litigation or reliance on payouts from employment practices liability insurance.
Business Continuity Planning and Business Insurance
Additionally, business continuity planning may include obtaining additional insurance. Some types of insurances are mandatory for firms based on the applicable international, national, or state law; or whether the firm is operating in a highly regulated industry. The types of business insurances are extensive, but business recovery planning may include securing one of the following insurance policies:
- Aviation
- Bid and Performance Bond
- Business Owner Policy - BOP
- Commercial Auto
- Commercial General Liability
- Commercial Property
- Commercial Umbrella
- Course of Construction/Builders Risk
- Directors and Officers Insurance (D&O)
- Earthquake Residential
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
- Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O)
- Health Insurance
- Health Insurance Group
- Home Owners Insurance
- Inland Marine Equipment
- License Bond
- Life Insurance Personal
- Life Insurance Group
- Pollution Liability
- Truckers
- Workers’ Comp
“You do risk analysis for only one reason: Would you manage the product differently if any of your risks happen?” says Johanna Rothman, a technology product development consultant at Rothman Consulting Group, Inc.
Operating a business come with inherent risk exposure. This means that managers and small business owner-operators need to take responsibility over managing risk to avoid losses that might be easily prevented or whose impact might be reduced through basic risk management planning.
General Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for tax or legal advice.
Vanessa Cross - Vanessa Cross is a freelance writer who writes about international trade, business law and small business development issues.
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