Practical steps for organizations to realize the true value of enterprise risk management (a new release from COSO)
Over the past few decades, enterprise risk management (ERM) has received increased attention from boards and executives, and it continues to evolve in its development and uses. To further inform organizations on its benefits, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) is releasing new guidance, “Creating and Protecting Value: Understanding and Implementing Enterprise Risk Management,” offering succinct, tangible steps to implement an effective ERM program.
“Together with COSO’s Enterprise Risk Management – Integrating with Strategy and Performance and other COSO guidance, this paper is a good starting point for an effective ERM initiative,” says Paul Sobel, COSO Chairman.
“The goal is to develop a momentum for ERM to expand and deepen the organization’s strategy-setting, performance, and risk-management processes in pursuit of creating and protecting value.”
The guidance is based on successful practices used by organizations in taking an incremental, step-bystep approach to implementing ERM. As noted in the paper, any ERM initiative needs to be tailored carefully to the needs of a specific organization. The updated COSO ERM Framework clarifies both the relationship between strategy and risk and that the objective of ERM is to assist the organization to achieve its strategy and business objectives. Understanding those two key points is not only critical for success but important in setting and communicating the risk culture of the organization.
“The approach of this paper and the updated ERM Framework and related guidance provide the flexibility to tailor an ERM initiative and realize fully its benefits,” said Dr. Frigo.
“Enhancing their ERM processes starts with a clear understanding of the role of ERM in assisting the directors and senior management to make better decisions and achieve their strategy and business objectives.”
The business environment today is one in which boards of directors and senior management will continue to face rapid changes, complexities, and volatile risks. Such an environment, however, also presents them with significant new opportunities. Organizations can enhance their abilities to be successful in both addressing risks and taking advantage of opportunities by enhancing their enterprise risk management processes and integrating ERM fully into their strategy setting and performance processes.
Please visit www.COSO.org for the full paper.
