Whose Turn Is It to Walk the Rhino? Or, How Can We Use Risk Management Effectively?

by Joyce Statz

There is no single best way for organizations of all types to do risk management. Instead, there appears to be a maturity model for risk management that has at least three levels. Some organizations work on one or two levels. Those working in high-risk environments may take advantage of all three levels, using that which is appropriate to their circumstances. To examine these three levels, I will use a case study of Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS). During the last two years, MCS has grown from several hundred people to about 1,600 people, who support the transition of Microsoft technologies from the desktop to the heart of the enterprise. Working in this risk-rich environment, MCS has recognized the value of good risk management. It has taken on a worldwide program to implement risk management, with guidance from TeraQuest Metrics. In this article, I will discuss the approach that's being used and the lessons learned thus far.

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Whose Turn Is It to Walk the Rhino? Or, How Can We Use Risk Management Effectively? June 1998