Program Risk Review

Review Scope and Focus

Reviews are aimed at understanding the whole risk management system and how people, policy, and structures interact with one another. The goal is to identify opportunities for improvement and strengths that can be leveraged for maximum impact. Reviews look at risk governance, like decision-making and accountability structures, and information flow, such as how expectations and changes are communicated and how feedback loops inform organizational learning.

Program Risk Reviews focus on program design, planning, and delivery practices, and how risk management is embedded throughout. This includes how policy translates into work activities, and how program and field practices compare against current accepted practices in the industry. We use human factors methods to help articulate and evaluate these processes and consider how organizational and safety culture inform these aspects.

Emergency preparation and crisis management are staples of risk reviews. We examine likely incident scenarios and potential impacts on people and the organization, communication and escalation protocols, and how the organization plans and prepares to work with and communicate with all relevant stakeholders in the event of a crisis.

Deliverables

The review concludes with a written report that provides observations and prioritized recommendations. The report includes an executive summary suitable for board presentation, a detailed analysis of the current risk management strategy, and findings with actionable recommendations organized by theme or operational area, and priorities for implementation based on risk and current capabilities.  

A leadership briefing accompanies the report to support discussion, build shared understanding of findings, and establish agreement on priorities and next steps. This briefing helps translate observations into decisions and creates alignment between executive and program leadership on the path forward.

The review provides clarity about what is working well, where gaps or constraints exist, and where attention and resources should be directed. It gives organizations insight into how their system operates in practice and creates a roadmap for improvement that is grounded in evidence and realistic about context. The process builds accountability and alignment across people and systems, and improves consistency across programs.

Consulting projects are aimed at targeted improvements to an organization’s risk management plan. Recent projects have included crisis management planning and training, partner vetting, venue risk assessment, and risk management training for staff and leadership. These engagements are tailored to each organization’s context and help leaders move forward when they need specific support, a fresh perspective, or additional capacity.

Program design helps schools and program providers build a new program offering or refine an existing one. Safety management is more effective when it is thoughtfully integrated early in the design stage, and when program goals, learning curriculum, and activities are aligned. We help on the ground and in-person, such as intensive workshops or conducting venue risk assessments, and we help remotely on specific projects like curriculum development or as an ongoing thought partner. This service is especially valuable for international schools and providers in Asia-Pacific.