Risk in review 2015: Decoding uncertainty, delivering value

Business risk is everywhere - external and internal, interconnected, growing, and ever-changing. Executives and boards know it, and they’re concerned.

In this year’s PwC Risk in Review survey of 1,229 senior executives and board members, 73% of respondents agreed that risks to their companies are increasing. Today’s business leaders often have to respond quickly to a changing world, even as they are obliged to supply more data to regulators and potential deal partners, better understand the risks embedded within their global supply chain, guard their firms from market uncertainty, and protect their intellectual property and customer data from increasingly sophisticated and widespread cyber threats.

But as our survey shows, companies are not, largely, responding to this environment with improved risk management programs. Despite the fact that survey results show clearly that an eagerness to confront business risks boosts management effectiveness, prevents costly misjudgments, drives efficiency, and generates higher profit margin growth, only an elite group of companies (12% of the total surveyed) have put in place the processes and structures to make them true risk management leaders.

Key points:

• The heart of the matter: Risk management enables growth
• An in-depth discussion: The importance of risk management leadership
• What this means for your business: Five steps to risk management program leadership