In my years of writing and talking about risk and strategy, one thing I’ve had to be careful about is making sure to use terms or phrases in their proper context or meaning. It’s common for us to use terms interchangeably that, upon closer examination, have different meanings. This often goes unnoticed, but in some […] The post Strategic Initiative vs. Operational Project: Same or Different? appeared first on Strategic Decision Solutions ..read more

When is the last time you rushed to the front of the line to get a root canal or pay a speeding ticket? I think it’s safe to say the answer is never… ERM is much the same way for many executives. The preference is to talk about operations, systems, strategy, and competitive advantage, not […] The post Do Your ERM Practices Need Updating? appeared first on Strategic Decision Solutions ..read more

If there’s one thing I have come to appreciate about ERM, it’s the number of perspectives around a given topic and the intense debate that often ensues. I always enjoy learning what other people think about a given topic and why. In the ERM space, this means debates around risk assessment techniques (mostly), risk appetite, […] The post Yet Another Take and Surprising Twist on the Quantitative vs. Qualitative Debate appeared first on Strategic Decision Solutions ..read more

It’s amazing how perceptions of something can change over time. Just a few short years ago, most would scoff at the idea of working from home. However, with changing circumstances, times, and technology, people’s views have shifted considerably to the point that it’s become more mainstream. Much the same can be said for enterprise risk […] The post 10 Differences Between Traditional and Enterprise Risk Management appeared first on Strategic Decision Solutions ..read more

If there’s one pithy quote or proverb that sums up the subject of today’s article, it’s this – “variety is the spice of life.” In thinking about the deeper meaning behind this, it’s not hard to see how it has survived since first coined in the 1785 poem The Task by William Cowper. While we […] The post 3 Examples to Make Risk Management More Approachable and Fun appeared first on Strategic Decision Solutions ..read more

It’s that time of year… Time of year for what you may be asking? Income tax filing? Spring Break? No, the time of year I’m talking about are all the top risk reports that are released around the New Year. These reports typically consist of a list of top 10 risks facing businesses and the […] The post 4 Questions for Identifying Top Risks for your Company appeared first on Strategic Decision Solutions ..read more

Something I have come to appreciate in recent years, and backed by research coincidentally, is how watching a familiar TV show or movie can be a great stress reliever. Familiar plot lines mean our brains don’t have to work very hard, which can be a welcome relief after a hectic week. I could list several […] The post Should Heat Maps Be Scrapped Or Can They Still Be Useful? appeared first on Strategic Decision Solutions ..read more

William Shakespeare’s iconic phrase “To Be or Not to Be” from the play Hamlet seems fitting for today’s topic. To PowerPoint or Not to PowerPoint – that is the question. That most certainly is one of the top questions to ask when it comes to meetings. Most people seem to choose the former when you […] The post To PowerPoint or Not to PowerPoint: The Right Communication Tool at the Right Time appeared first on Strategic Decision Solutions ..read more

It’s fun to mix things up a little and change up the routine, isn’t it? Well, in this case, it means presenting things in a different format. And for this, the format is video. I have the pleasure of being the instructor for the ERM Advanced Techniques class (taught each Spring) for UCLA Extension’s ERM […] The post Value Chain Analysis and How It Helps Create a Competitive Advantage appeared first on Strategic Decision Solutions ..read more

The beginning of a new year is an excellent time to take stock of both where we’ve been and where we’re going. As we do this, especially when thinking about bigger picture issues, we can’t help but notice today’s turbulence and how quickly things can change. This mantra gets repeated to the point that it’s […] The post The Rise and Fall of Flip Video – A Case Study in VUCA appeared first on Strategic Decision Solutions ..read more