Category: Risk Management

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

Disaster photo opportunity? Blue collar!

Interesting to see how the politicians dressed for the recent NSW floods. They get it. Sometimes, small things become big things. President Bush and his public relations team got it – the new head of FEMA (Michael Brown) didn’t get it. Consequently, it has become an iconic image of how NOT to dress – especially… Read More

Time is our currency

Of value are risk-based approaches which emphasise the importance of “establishing context”. Unfortunately “context” has become a buzzword – and buzzwords become irksome and lose traction. This is unfortunate because “meaning making” or “sense-making” – again, use whichever jargon or buzzword you like – is fundamental. Critical. It is critical to both “get right” and keep refining. Read More

Beta Testing next week!

I love how people start their posts with “I’m excited to …” People who know me know that I am fairly “unexcitable” – but trust me, I am excited. Let me share where we are up to. This week, our Partnership Board meeting approved moving our upcoming Software as a Service (SaaS) to Beta testing… Read More

Coronavirus advice …

I’m taking the liberty of reposting what I think is a useful set of considerations – from an expert – that go beyond just washing your hands. “American pathologist James Robb was one of the first molecular virologists to study coronaviruses in the 1970s. He sent this email to family and friends about how he’s… Read More

How can “dry” subjects be communicated?

Effective communication is characterised by enthusiasm and focus – on the part of all involved. Too often this is not the case. Putting aside environmental influences (such as cold rooms and uncomfortable seats) I think there are three key variables: the “presenter” may be too distant, academic, or didactic. the “message or subject” may be… Read More

A tale of fiascos and dilemmas – lessons from Bangladesh garment factories

Where there is inadequate management of risk during the implementation of a project the very outcome being sought is often compromised. That is now the case with the Accord on Fire and Building Safety which was a welcome initiative following the tragic deaths of five years ago. The Government has “found itself” short on factories… Read More

Are Templates Procrustean Beds?

The story of the “generous” Procrustes is an illustrative one. After offering hospitality to those in need, Procrustes either stretched the limbs of the short to fit his bed – or hacked those of the long, again, to fit his bed. Too often we see “guides” and “standards” parading as flexible tools – but with… Read More