By Karumba Kinyua/ Karen Wachira
Lead with 99% certainty!
Maximising Impact
As the Kenyan economy continues to develop and more businesses enter the market, understanding and managing risk is becoming increasingly important. With the rapid advancement of technology and globalization, businesses are now operating in an ever-changing environment where traditional methods of risk management are no longer effective. This is why the power of risk management to drive business growth in 2023 is so important.
The Kenyan economy has seen rapid growth over the past decade, with the government investing heavily in infrastructure and modernizing the country’s banking and financial systems. This has resulted in an influx of foreign investments and a growing entrepreneurial spirit. As the economy grows, the risks for businesses increase and the ability to identify, assess and mitigate risks will be the key to success. Some of the top anticipated risks are; increased competition, changing market conditions, and increased regulation.
“You must be prepared to manage risk to maximize the growth potential. Risk management is a key component of any successful business strategy, and as the business environment continues to evolve, so too must the strategies companies use to manage risk” Risk management is a proactive approach to managing potential losses and ensuring that businesses can continue to grow and thrive in the future. In overview, it helps to identify and mitigate potential losses or negative impacts.
One of the most important aspects of risk management is understanding the risks that are associated with a particular sector or industry. This means that businesses should take the time to assess their operations and identify potential risks.By doing so, businesses can gain a better understanding of the potential losses they could incur and can then develop strategies to mitigate those risks. In addition to identifying potential risks, businesses should also take the time to develop robust systems to manage and monitor them.
To manage these risks, turn to risk management strategies that can help to identify potential risks, minimize their impact, and create plans to manage them effectively. Common risk management techniques include risk identification, risk assessment, risk control, and risk monitoring. Risk identification involves identifying and analyzing potential risks and assessing their potential impacts.“Risk assessment involves analyzing the everity of its potential damage.
Risk control involves developing strategies and policies to mitigate potential risks, such as implementing safety protocols and conducting regular reviews. Risk monitoring involves tracking and analyzing the effectiveness of risk management strategies.Businesses must also have contingency plans in place in case the worst happens. This includes having backup systems in place to ensure the business can continue to operate in the event of a disaster.
As the Kenyan business environment continues to evolve, businesses must stay ahead of the curve and be prepared to respond to changing market conditions. Risk management is one of the most important ways businesses can ensure they can protect their investments and grow sustainably.By implementing risk management strategies, businesses can ensure that they are better prepared to handle potential risks, minimize their impact, and grow their business.
Risk management can help your business to identify opportunities for growth and manage potential risks more effectively. For example, your business can use risk management to identify emerging markets and new areas of investment.
1. Reliable and accurate data
The key to successful risk management is having reliable and accurate data. With the advent of big data and analytics, businesses can now access real-time data that can be used to identify potential risks, plan suitable responses, and monitor progress. This data can also be used to develop predictive models that help businesses anticipate and respond faster to changes in the market.
2. Power of technology
Businesses can leverage the power of technology to automate many of the risk management processes. Automation not only reduces the burden on the business but also ensures that the risk management plan is up-to-date and consistent with the latest market trends.
With the increasing prevalence of cyber threats, businesses must ensure that their risk management plans are comprehensive and up-to-date to protect their data and assets.
3. Flexible plans
Businesses must ensure that their risk management plans are flexible and responsive, as the regulatory environment is constantly evolving.
Also, continuously monitor and assess the risk management plans to ensure that they remain effective and efficient. By doing so, businesses can ensure that they remain competitive and resilient in the ever-changing business landscape.
4. Employee risk awareness
Businesses should invest in training and development of their employees. Employees need to be educated on the different types of risks and their potential impacts, as well as how to respond to them. This will ensure that everyone understands their role and responsibilities in the risk management process and can contribute to the overall success of the plan.
5. The law
Businesses must be aware of the legal and regulatory requirements in their industry, as well as the potential risks that can arise from not following these requirements. This will ensure you are compliant with all applicable regulations. In Kenya, several regulations must be adhered to, such as the Companies Act, the Corporate Governance Code, and the Financial Reporting Standards. Compliance with these regulations is essential to ensure that businesses remain competitive and can drive growth in 2023.
The power of Risk Management
Risk management is a key factor in driving business growth by identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to ensure the business is well-equipped to capitalize on new opportunities and remain competitive through the year. By having a robust risk management program in place, businesses can ensure that they remain compliant with applicable regulations and can protect their investments and profits. With the right risk management strategy in place, your business can ensure it is well-prepared to drive and maximize growth potential in 2023.
Karumba Kinyua is the Managing Partner and Karen Wachira is a Risk Analyst at PineHill Consulting
