The business world is changing more quickly now than ever before. Barely a day passes without news of a mega-merger to achieve economies of scale or of a new e-Commerce project that was unthinkable only a few months ago.

In this hothouse environment, businesses must do all they can to prevent mistakes that can lose them efficiency or tarnish their reputation.

ISL promotes the risk management approach to identifying and managing the key business processes at work in any organisation. The pointers below have been prepared to help you decide whether you have gone as far as you might in paying attention to potential sources of problems.

Some companies are subject to specific requirements such as the London Stock Exchange Super Code, including the Turnbull Report. Nonetheless, we believe that compliance must be seen as a bonus of risk management practice.

How do you score on the following questions?

1. Have you ever carried out a Risk Profile of your operations?
2. Has it been updated to include new ventures such as e-Commerce?
3. Do you have a Business Continuity Plan?
4. Does it include a Crisis Management and Disaster Recovery Plan?
5. How would you protect your "brand" in crisis situations?
6. Is the Board committed to Risk Management?
7. Is this message communicated and integrated into your company's culture?

The above are not prescriptive, but our experience suggests that if you have not quantified your Risk Management exposures under the above "headings", you are seriously exposed.

If you would like to discuss how you can approach any of these topics, please call us on 020 8405 1801.