Risk classification
Risk classification is a categorization of identified risks based on factors such as: probability of its occurrence, estimated costs, hypothetical impact or amount of required countermeasures.
A systematic classification of risk approaches can relate to on of the following categories [1]:
- Actuarial approach,
- Probabilistic risk analysis,
- Economics of risks,
- Psychology of risk,
- Social theories of risk,
- Cultural theory of risk.
Examples of risk classifications
There are multiple ways to classify risks across listed above categories, but the most common classifications include:
Important classification related to possible alternatives to current situation[2]:
- Pure risk - which can have only two possible outcomes: complete loss or no loss at all. That is a type of risk that cannot be controlled. Within pure risk we can determine: personal risks, legal risks, operational risks, liability risks, property risks.
- Speculative risk - impact of speculative risk can be both: loss or gain. Within speculative risks we can determine: liquidity risks, reputational risks, business risks, strategic risks, credit risks, market risks (e.g. currency, equity).
Due to the range of risk hypothetical impact:
- Fundamental risk - tend to affect a wide range of factors,
- Particular risk - affects individual factors.
Similar classification related to impact on people involved:
- Systemic risk - probability of risk threats (loss or failure) common to entire group or system
- Unsystemic risk - not common to entire system.
Classification that distinguishes risks related to enterprise functioning:
- Invariable risk - concerns whole economic system (by taking into consideration factors like inflation level, unemployment level etc.),
- Variable risk - concerns the given organization (e.g. bankruptcy, strike).
Classification related to organization development related decisions[3]:
- Project risk - concerns technical aspects of project realization,
- Organization risk - related to the wrong assessment of future market conditions by the investing company,
- Owners risk - in the case of owners decisions that do not aim to diversify the company's development.
Classification that is referring to risk threats of losses:
- Financial risk - risks of incurring financial losses that can be easily countable,
- Non financial risk - it has no direct impact on financial losses but has negative consequences in the social and natural environment.
Other risk classifications:
- Economic and non-economic risk,
- Quantifiable and non-quantifiable risk,
- Static and dynamic risks.
Footnotes
- ↑ Concepts of risk: a classification 1992, p. 57
- ↑ Risk management and Simulation 2013, p. 6-11
- ↑ Classification and Analysis of Risks in Software Engineering, p. 447
| Risk classification — recommended articles |
| Insurance risk — Total risk — Risk identification — Strategic risk — Cost risk — Change management in project — Risks and uncertainties — TOWS analysis — Scenarios of states in environment |
References
- Acharya V.V., Pedersen L.H., Philippon T., Richardson M. (2016), Measuring Systemic Risk "The Review of Financial Studies", Volume 30, Issue 1, January 2017, Pages 2-47
- Cummins J.D., Smith B.D., Vance R.N., Vanderhel J.L.(2013), Risk Classification in Life Insurance Springer Science & Business Media, LLC
- Gupta A. (2013), Risk management and Simulation CRC Press Inc., New York
- Hoodat H,Rashidi H. (2009), Classification and Analysis of Risks in Software Engineering World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 32, p. 446-452
- Howarth I. C. (1988), The relationship between objective risk, subjective risk and behaviour "Ergonomics", 31:4, 527-535
- Renn O. (1992), Concepts of risk: a classification Krimsky, Sheldon (Hrsg.): "Social theories of risk". Westport, Conn. : Praeger. - ISBN 0-275-94168-X, S. 53-79
Author: Natalia Kobos
