According to U. Beck (2001; 1986), U. Beck, A. Giddens and S. Lash (1994), we have entered the society or the age of risk. Faced with a “less and less predictable and more and more aggressive” context, it becomes essential for organizations to know their environment precisely and to control it as much as possible.
Globalization, political instability, financial market volatility and even environmental issues are all factors that can impact an entity.
By opting to implement risk management, a company or institution becomes familiar with its risks and can decide on an appropriate action plan. What actions can be planed in order to prevent which risk? Not everything can always be controlled, but the right decisions at the right time can significantly reduce the intensity of a hazard.
Without the element of surprise, as most difficulties will have been anticipated and thought through, it is much simpler to react quickly and adequately.
Let’s imagine a major workplace accident in an industrial context, with potentially dangerous machines: are the emergency procedures in place? Has the staff been properly trained to use the machines? Has the staff been trained to react to such an event? Does management have an action plan to support the people who witnessed the scene? Is a communication plan in place to avoid a mediation scandal?… If everything has been thought out and planned, the risk of a substandard crisis management is much less significant, and an effective crises management can even turn out as an opportunity.