Risk evaluation software improves on London's Tube system.
With more than three million journeys taken every day on the
London Underground, a secure and reliable method for recording and
evaluating risk is needed for passenger and staff safety.
After having a manual risk register for more than a year, London
Underground decided to implement a web-based active risk management
system from Strategic Thought, which was installed in October
2002.
Richard Browning, business planning and performance manager at
London Underground, said, "Risk management is an intrinsic part of
London Underground and this was an opportunity to formalise our
processes."
The system is used to manage a wide range of risk including
financial, infrastructure, reputation and service continuity risk
(keeping the trains running).
The number of users of the system has increased from 50 to more
than 90, mainly at the London Underground head office.
In the past, risk factors were identified and then evaluated, but
the new system means that individuals can be assigned plans to
mitigate specific risks. The control feedback in the active risk
manager monitors the progress of those plans to see whether
deadlines are met.
Browning said, "The risk record is not just there to be evaluated
and admired. We now have the ability to do something.
"Each departmental director tracks and manages their own risks. For
example, the director of human resources has a different set of
risks to the finance director."
In each department there is a key risk representative who acts as a
liaison point. Their responsibility is to update the system, link
with different departments and managers and identify and discuss
the risks.
This enables most communication to be carried out face-to-face
which helps with interpretation and understanding. The individual
risk registers are then analysed at head office.
London Underground plans to share its data on risks with its
partners and is currently working with Strategic Thought on methods
of reporting this information.
Browning said, "London Underground directors have been fully
supportive of the introduction of the risk management system and
the top-down support has encouraged risk management throughout the
business - we have to rely on people to put data into the
system."
