Article
A 'system-of-systems' risk approach
Proceedings of the XVII Annual Conference of the International Society for Occupational Ergonomics and Safety; Munich, Germany.
(2003)
Abstract
This paper develops an argument for a systems-oriented approach to risk, particularly in multi-stakeholder domains (such as government policy and performance). This model of risk is characterised by a “system-of-systems” taxonomy, which defines risk as an organisation commodity that occurs when capability (in its fullest sense) can not be assured. By applying this systemic view of risk, it follows that resilience is an emergent property of capable systems. When resilience is evidenced at all stakeholder levels, treated risk becomes a commodity with value. So the model defines capability assurance as a valid goal of risk treatment, and proposes that capability is a dimension that can be tracked from a basic prototypical (or functional) assurance level, through to highly evolved (or resilient) assurance levels. This method of tracking risk treatment through capability assurance levels (nine levels are proposed) is a key benefit of systems thinking, because it allows alternative options for the measurement and therefore management of risk.
Keywords
- risk,
- systems
Disciplines
Publication Date
2003
Citation Information
Mark Andrew, Eileen Hampshire and Jasmine Webb. "A 'system-of-systems' risk approach" Proceedings of the XVII Annual Conference of the International Society for Occupational Ergonomics and Safety; Munich, Germany. (2003) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/mark_andrew/36/