In Decision Making, Context is King

Before identifying options / solutions, first ensure a shared understanding of your objectives. The scope of the decision should be determined within the context of your organisational objectives. Identify your stakeholders (both internal and external) in relation to the scope of this decision and consider their concerns, issues and expectations. Core to the scope will… Read More

Facing the future with a child on a stick

Widely recognised as a Leunig classic, his biting cartoon highlights the need for good decision making.

Balancing eggs in baskets …

The adage cautions against putting all of your eggs in one basket. A key food with many vulnerabilities. Manage your business continuity risks

Resilience NSW – a reflection

It would be useful if the business continuity plan for Resilience NSW was used transparently to rebuild the jigsaw based on achieving objectives. Or am I too much of an optimist?

Vulnerability is at the very heart of risk

Addressing the “onion layers” – the underlying “why” – is an effective way of managing risk. It is YOUR VULNERABILITY. There is limited value in “leading the witness”. Far better to stimulate your reflection and considerations – of your context. It is in that spirit the whimsical images, prompts, and references below are provided. Concept:… Read More

Manage your Sword of Damocles

Damocles ponders his circumstances
(part of painting Sword of Damocles” by Richard Westall, 1812)

Damocles Risk Assessor Instructional.pdf Download

Start by considering your threats / hazards

The internationally respected standard is a good place to start. Use it to filter which threats or hazards might be relevant to you.

Don’t like the NFPA classifications and hazard categories? Fine – tailor your own.

… and within the categories, add and edit specific hazards!

Attribute a level of significance (on a scale up to ten) to the threats or hazards which made it through your initial “might be relevant” filter.

We assess risk in order to better manage it.

Configure your report and communicate it!

Add silent scooters – and silent policy – as one of your hazards

In Melbourne on the weekend I was nearly “cleaned up” a couple of times with near miss e scooter incidents. So I thought I’d do a quick check on some questions around whether it’s an issue in Melbourne – and elsewhere. The answer is YES In England In Adelaide A hazard – whispering up behind… Read More

Future planning calls for good decision making

One of the most interesting themes was Professor Howden highlighting the need for well thought through criteria to be applied to decision making.

Yes, we are all different …

… differently exposed … differently vulnerable … differently impacted Check the app – https://apple.co/3u47UNw

… so I get another safety guy.

This story – from Matt Damon – about Tom Cruise is bemusing because it is about “your risk” – risk you control. However socially imposed risk – especially risk imposed by those with wealth, power, and status, is more problematic. Regardless, both cases call for good decision making. #risky #decisions #decisionmakingprocess https://apps.apple.com/au/app/decision-making-app/id1626271695

Buyer beware?

Caveat Emptor generally applies to commercial transactions such as property purchases. However the recent embarrassing fiasco around the Onkaparinga Council decision to appoint Alastair Dawson as their CEO begs a number of “in principle” related questions.

Too heavy …

Enjoying Paramount’s 1883 with lessons left, right and centre. Business continuity 101 – in an extreme event adjust your load – trim your sails – reconfigure.

Lessons from cleaning up …

Some things change … some things don’t. Cleaning out old stuff – in this case, some plastic overhead transparency slides (remember them) associated with some planning consultancies and teaching at the Australian Counter Disaster College (yes, AC/DC) – 1987 to 1998. The “Risk as a function of the interface between hazards and vulnerability” lives on… Read More

Always worth checking under the bonnet

How does management have confidence to sign off on Business Continuity Software? Listening to sales pitches characterised by: Bells and whistles. Shiny new toys. Smoke and mirrors. is too often a management burden. I suggest keeping it simple with a couple of considerations.

Vulnerability is at the heart of good risk assessment

How do you recognise and address your vulnerabilities to disasters? We are all exposed to different hazards. To different disasters. We are all differently vulnerable. The internationally respected Standard on Continuity, Emergency, and Crisis Management (NFPA 1600) defines risk as a measure of the probability and severity of adverse effects that result from exposure to… Read More

Old school … or … New School?

Hi – just dropping this post in response to “the needs of old schoolers” – who, while they like our free apps (OughtWe decision-maker, and Agile Business Continuity), prefer the comfort – and familiarity – of files they know (such as Word and Excel) – and have therefore requested I make them available at nominal… Read More

Can simplification become simplistic?

I’m looking for some feedback on whether the soon to be released Damocles Risk Assessor App should have seperate screens for before and after impact risk – or should they be on the one screen?

Let me count the ways …

If I was living in the Ukraine I might have benefited from reflecting on which hazards I would potentially be exposed to. A then, how vulnerable I am. If I wasn’t living in the Ukraine I would still benefit from this process. A useful checklist to kickstart consideration is the Hazards from NFPA 1600 –… Read More

Taking a step back …

I recall – in the late 1980s – reflecting on the wisdom displayed in the concepts illustrated below (despite the bemusing “causal/casual” typo 😂). It demonstrates the value of “peeling back the onion”. The value asking “why”? The value of questioning to the void. It also flags a warning. It flags the need to think… Read More