Enterprise risk management: Factors associated with effective implementation

Risk management is undergoing a great change, as organizations shift from the traditional and compartmental to an enterprise wide approach. Consequently enterprise risk management (ERM) is gaining global attention among risk management professionals and academics. The demand for the adoption of ERM has led to several companies embracing it, yet its implementation has become challenging. Research shows that ERM approach emphasizes a holistic approach for assessing and evaluating the risks that an organization faces as against the "silo" approach of the traditional methods. The extant literature shows that through the reduction of the risk that an organization faces, ERM is capable of improving the performance and value. The study used a non-experimental correlational approach to explore the relationship between the presence of a chief risk officer (CRO) and an audit committee (AC), and the support of top management (TM) in relation to the implementation of ERM. A survey instrument was provided to self-identified risk-management professionals who are members of Survey Monkey Audience Service database. The target sample frame requested for analysis using a power of .95 was (n = 119). However, the final number analyzed was (n = 134). Frequencies and percentages were conducted on the demographic survey items and regression and correlational analyses were also performed. The study findings show that there was a significant relationship between the role of a CRO, the presence of an AC, and the support of TM and the level of ERM deployment. The study also found significant correlations between management support level and CRO, and AC. In addition, a much strong positive correlation was noted between the presence of a CRO and an AC.