Communication

Components for effective/sustainable decisions:
  • Ensure participants understand why and where they are needed, what is expected of them, that they are engaged and contribute
  • Gather experiences, information, ideas, input and perspectives, share the results
  • Collect and share factual information from all relevant sources
Risk Communication Critical Process
  • Builds trust and encourages buy-in through shared decision-making
  • Reduces misperceptions, misunderstandings
  • Improves the technical understanding or science” ofwhat needs to be done
Successful Risk Management
  • Aligned with an organization's overall objectives, strategic direction, operating practices and internal culture
  • Is a factor in setting priorities and revenue allocation
  • Integrated within existing governance and decision-making structures
Critical Success Factors
  • Strong involvement by upper management
  • Organized process for risk analysis and response
  • Assignment of specific risk responsibilities

Other Risk Management Topics:

1. Risk Management Introduction
2. Why Risk Management
3. Identifying and Assessing Risk
4. Practical Strategies
5. Communication
6. Monitoring
“Any organization that provides programs to the public has a moral, legal and spiritual obligation to institute appropriate risk management practices for volunteer programs. This is not only the right thing to do; it is legally required under the principle of duty of care.”

Marlene Deboisbriand (past president, Volunteer Canada)

Risk Management is:
  • The process that an organization uses to identify, assess, control, minimize the risks of Bodily Injury or Financial Loss arising from its activities and operations.
  • Discipline for managing the possibility that some future event will cause harm.
  • It provides strategies and techniques to recognize and confront threats or danger.
  • Its Purpose: To avoid, reduce or prevent risk from imposing negative consequences.
What It Considers:
  • Risks at all levels of operations (strategic, operational and project/events)
  • Business objectives, decision making and management framework
  • The entire organization: from the board to senior management, employees, volunteers and members  
 The Risk Management Process:
  1. Establish the context: Why do this?
  2. Identification: What are the risks?
  3. Analysis/evaluation: How much will it cost?
  4. Treatment: What can/should/needs to be done?
  5. Communicate: Who needs to know and when?
  6. Monitor: Review results, adjust where needed


"Learn by Doing" Training
Personnel need to know:

  1. Why risk management is important
  2. What to do and when
  3. What is expected of them
  4. Monitor and assess results frequently, adjust where advisable or necessary
  5. Communication: make it consistent and frequent to all stakeholders
Without Communication
  • Loss of management credibility
  • Protracted, unnecessary, costly debate and conflict with stakeholders
  • Diversion of management attention and resources away from more valuable issues
  • Lack of support by employees and volunteers