A distinct set of risk management practices can arm organisations to capture value from their innovation efforts and better manage related risks for further growth, said a new report from PwC, a global leader in assurance, advisory and tax services.

PwC’s Risk in Review Study titled “Managing risks and growth in the age of innovation” explores actions that risk executives are taking to achieve the appropriate risk-reward balance as they lean into innovation. More than half (60 per cent) of those polled manage innovation risk very effectively or somewhat effectively – a cohort of the survey population which the study labels as ‘Adapters’.  

 Adapters outperform their less effective peers in several areas including their level of influence over decision-making about innovation including implementing new technologies to develop new products (57 per cent versus 18 per cent of non-adapters) and the value they say their risk management function brings (58 per cent versus 18 per cent respectively note significant value).

Notably, Adapters are also two to three times more likely to express confidence in their risk management programme’s ability to effectively manage risk from new technologies including artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things than their less effective peers — and more likely to expect revenue growth.

Andrew McPherson, PwC Global Governance Risk Compliance (GRC) and Internal Audit leader, said: “Organisations around the world are taking advantage of emerging and innovative technologies for growth. But to fully capitalise on these opportunities, risk management and innovation must be in sync every step of the way.

“Adapters are making sure their risk executives are engaged throughout the innovation lifecycle and are addressing both the known and unanticipated risks that accompany innovation. Adapters are tackling risk differently and are three times as likely to say their risk function contributes significant value.”  

Steven Drake, PwC Middle East Risk Assurance leader said: “Never before has the risk agenda in the Middle East been so prevalent. As organisations increasingly face pressure to innovate, they need to strike the right risk-reward balance to succeed. And whilst the benefits of technology are undeniable, without the proper management of risks, these investments can become wasted. In the digital age, building trust will provide the context for managing risk.”

 Given the many benefits of embracing innovation in a risk-conscious manner, PwC’s survey outlines five distinctions that separate Adapters and Non-Adapters.

1.       They engage early and often across the innovation cycle. Adapters are twice as likely as Non-Adapters to advise on innovative activities before the planning stage.

2.       They use multiple actions to address their risk exposure from new initiatives. Adapters more often use four or more actions ranging from revisiting objectives and strategy to sharing the risk than their less effective peers.

3.       They adjust risk appetite and tolerances with frequency. Adapters adjust the risk appetite for all eight innovative activities listed in our survey, and most often when creating new products outside their core offerings and implementing new technologies.

4.       They harness new skills, new competencies and new tools to support innovation. While 58 per cent of Adapters report that they are bolstering their risk management capabilities by adding new skill sets, just 39 per cent of Non-Adapters plan to do this.   

5.       They monitor and assess effectiveness of risk management in multiple ways. 51 per cent of Adapters use external parties to assess their risk management capabilities, while only 27 per cent of Non-Adapters are monitoring their effectiveness in this manner.

 Organisations must understand that risk management and innovation go hand-in-hand. Innovation brings great opportunity.  A keen awareness of the necessary actions to address both known and unanticipated risks that accompany innovation, can equip risk executives to succeed in this fast-changing environment.

Risk executives should be engaged throughout the innovation lifecycle to effectively identify, assess, and manage innovation risk, according to the PwC report. – TradeArabia News Service