Post on 09-Aug-2015
Risky businessRisky business
How can SCC learn to be How can SCC learn to be more comfortable with risks?more comfortable with risks?
Can SCC learn to accept risks? 2
Risk can be a dirty word
• Risks are tricky to predict & evaluate– may be specific to one project– rarely remain static
• Work cultures can make risk taboo– Who owns up to failure? (‘blame culture’)– Need to “fail quickly” and learn from it
Can SCC learn to accept risks? 3
SUGGESTION: That the root of business capability is being better able to handle risks than others can.
• If so, then risk evaluation is a core skill for all businesses
• Risk-free projects bring little innovation
• There are huge risks in doing nothing…
Can SCC learn to accept risks? 4
Who learns from projects?
• Project risks are usually ‘owned’ by a temporary board (and at closure are handed on to departments)
• We ought to thoroughly review projects
• At which level does the learning occur -County, or at project level?
Can SCC learn to accept risks? 5
And the STP project?
• Whilst the scope was evolving, the project could not detail outcomes
• Risks owned by project board (with appropriate experience profile)
• Risks clearly understood and shared
• Valuable transfer of experiences
Can SCC learn to accept risks? 6
Making risks admissible
• Help staff to take well judged risks
• Recognise failures as valuable, too
• Clear reporting and support networks
• Accept that not all risks are foreseeable
• Encourage organisation-wide learning