‘ risk-based decision making [RBDM] ’

A Risk Sciences International glossary definition (Last modifed: December 15, 2023)

risk-based decision making [RBDM]

« Back to Glossary Index

Introduction

What is Risk-Based Decision Making?

RBDM services address a full scope of decision-making capabilities that support RBDM. These include framework-level analytical capabilities, such clarifying goals; and system-wide causal analysis and mapping, and assessment to ensure that the levels of the risks to be managed are known. Operational functions like risk scoring methods and priority-setting tools are also important.

Who benefits from Risk-Based Decision Making?

RBDM can benefit a wide range of groups that are affected by a regulator’s activities. The regulator is better able to control the highest risks through the application of the most cost-effective management measures; and central agency fiscal objectives of allocating risk management resources where they can do the most good can be achieved. Industry can benefit through streamlined inspection protocols that reward with better performance history, and the public benefits from improved safety as the most important risks are addressed more rigorously.

Vince Lombardi

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”
Vince Lombardi, Super Bowl-winning coach

The Service

RSI’s Risk-Based Decision Making offer, broadly

RSI’s RBDM services apply to all levels and scales of a regulator’s functions, and are elaborated as required by the client. This can begin with the development of an appropriate decision-making framework, and the identification of necessary analytical capacities and positioning of existing capacities, a process that may include key informant interview and consultation process to identify organizational needs and capabilities. More detailed practitioners’ tools can be developed as required, such as inspection prioritization guidelines, and indicators associated with the consistent evaluation of company risk level and proportional enforcement actions.

RSI’s Risk-Based Decision Making offer, in detail

As regulators vary in the level of implementation of RBDM that they require, and have achieved, RSI clarifies the aspects of a client’s risk decision-making roles that are to be adjusted to a RBDM approach, and will also advise on functions and capabilities that should be brought into alignment for the most effective application of the general approach. A regulatory system will need to establish a balance of risk-based and rule-based controls and enforcement approaches that is optimum for its own regulatory mandate and risk environment. 

Just as the risks to be managed need to be clearly understood, the relative effectiveness of the range of potential risk control measures also needs to be evaluated.

As RBDM addresses the most important risks, while giving less attention to lower risks, the overall policy framework may need to accommodate some new functions like risk tolerability evaluation and increased stakeholder engagement to support a reorientation away from an implicit zero risk assumption. As another example, an agency with a large or diverse risk management portfolio may require the development of risk metrics that enable the expression of different types of in consistent terms so they can be compared and prioritized for management action. 

Just as the risks to be managed need to be clearly understood, the relative effectiveness of the range of potential risk control measures also needs to be evaluated, in terms of both their risk reduction effect and cost-effectiveness. The use of analytical approaches and tools to evaluate the risks and the control measures enable an agency to both rank the risks that need to be addressed, and to prioritize risk management actions in consideration of risk significance and the potential to reduce it.

What are the benefits of Risk-Based Decision Making?

Clients benefit by gaining clearer knowledge of the risks they manage and the most appropriate type and cost of control measures. Larger departments and agencies benefit from a more confident and effective expenditure of resources, and industry benefits from the ability to reduce its compliance costs by maintaining a low risk rating. The regulator, and the public, benefit from a reduction in the number and severity of adverse outcomes within the managed domain as these are better targeted.

What can you expect?

The deliverables offered with an RBDM project depend on the functions, capabilities and tools that are required. Depending on the extent and scale of clients’ development of RBDM approaches, among the deliverables a client may expect are a risk decision-making framework tailored to the regulatory governance and risk management contexts; a decision-making system structure; metrics for expressing and comparing the risk levels of multiple activities and potential control measures; guidelines on specific analyses; and inspection prioritization and risk scoring methodologies. Clients may also wish to have presentations or workshops delivered to staff on some of the RBDM functions that are developed, to familiarize staff with new approaches, analyses and tools.

What is our expertise in Risk-Based Decision Making?

RSI has expertise in the full scope of functions and activities involved in RBDM approaches to risk decision-making. This includes the familiarity with governance contexts in which the organization operates, and system-level policies and analytical capacities such as risk tolerability and communication. RSI also has expertise in the operational tasks of developing risk metrics and risk indicators, as well as in risk assessment approaches and methods in many technical risk fields, including computer-based analytical tools applied to RBDM functions.

Synonyms:
risk management, risk assessment
Related Articles:
  • RSI and Engineers Canada develop on-line training courses
  • Melvin Andersen
    Dr. Andersen's illustrious 45-year career in toxicology and risk assessment includes key positions such as Chief Science Officer at The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences and Professor of Environmental Health at Colorado State University. His significant contributions include developing biologically realistic models for toxic chemical and drug effects, notably in physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, advancing the field of chemical risk assessment. Dr. Andersen's prolific research output consists of over 500 papers and book chapters, earning him prestigious awards like the Lehman and Merit Awards from the US Society of Toxicology and the Mildred S. Christian Award from the Academy of Toxicological Sciences.
  • RSI launches Global Risk Census
  • Patricia Larkin
    Dr. Patricia Larkin's career is dedicated to policy and regulatory assessments, focusing on the intersection of social determinants of health and health equity. Her expertise lies in managing human health and environmental risks, particularly in energy, water resources, and climate change. Patricia's research explores Canadian innovation in energy regulatory decision-making and its impact on risk management. She has led interdisciplinary international research projects, addressing risk management in public decision-making and environmental issues like carbon capture and storage. As Chair of the Applied Risk Management Specialty Group of the Society for Risk Analysis, she continues to contribute to this field.
  • RSI paper on Manganese PBPK selected as a top 2017 paper
  • RSI speaks to The Weather Network about wildfires and climate
  • Decision making framework developed for Canadian Blood Services (CBS) now online
  • IAI climate change report
  • Quinolones and risk of retinal detachment
  • Ila Cote
    Dr. Cote boasts over 35 years of expertise in public health risk assessment and environmental management. She advises governments and industries on chemical exposure risks and risk assessment implementation. An adjunct professor at the University of Colorado, she educates on environmental health, risk assessment, and public policy. Dr. Cote also teaches risk assessment at Rutgers University. Her research focuses on cancer, respiratory diseases, and enhancing risk assessment methods. She spent 27 years at the US Environmental Protection Agency, serving in roles like Senior Science Advisor, Division Director, and Associate Laboratory Director. Dr. Cote's influence extends globally, advising organizations like the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health.
  • Risk of Myocarditis and Pericarditis
  • Paul Stanish
    Paul Stanish holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Carleton University and a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Nanotechnology from the University of Waterloo. His doctoral research focused on energy movement in semiconducting oxides. Paul has experience in analytical chemistry and has developed Android applications for risk management in options trading. He joined Risk Sciences International in 2021, focusing on leveraging emerging tools to modernize client understanding of risk and streamline data culture.
  • Training Seminar in Systematic Review
  • Peter Aggett
    Dr. Peter Aggett, a Pediatrician specializing in Gastroenterology, Metabolism, and Chemical Pathology, focuses on essential trace elements in health and disease. He holds the position of Emeritus Head at Lancashire School of Health and Postgraduate Medicine and is a Professor of Child Health and Nutrition at the University of Central Lancashire. His extensive career includes roles in public health nutrition, nutrient risk assessment, and food safety, contributing to scientific advisory committees worldwide. Following retirement, Dr. Aggett continued as an External Expert for EFSA, reviewing Dietary Reference Values for essential micronutrients.
  • Paul Price
    With 45 years of experience in exposure and risk assessment, Dr. Paul Price has worked with diverse organizations, including the U.S. EPA and Dow Chemical. Specializing in mixture risk assessments, he is an adjunct professor at the University of Iowa and serves on the European Food Safety Authority’s committee on combined exposures. A prolific author, Dr. Price is currently focused on publications concerning mixture risk assessment and the Mixture Adjustment Factor.
  • Safety Profiles of Newer Contraceptives presented at meeting of Society of Reproductive Investigation
  • Principles of risk decision-making
    RSI investigators propose fundamental principles of risk decision-making, and explore their application in a range of real-world risk decision-making contexts. These ten principles will provide valuable guidance on addressing current and future risk issues facing civil societies worldwide.
  • Value of information analysis framework
  • Food safety assessments
  • Evidence-based Risk Assessment Framework
  • Dr. Emma Hartnett Selected for JEMRA Roster of Scientific Experts
  • Risks of anticholinergic drugs
  • Best Practices for Consideration of the Effects of Climate Change in Project-Level Assessments
  • QuarterWatch analyzes MedWatch Reports
  • Shintaro Hagiwara
    With a B.Math, M.Sc, and Ph.D in Statistics from Carleton University, Shintaro Hagiwara specialized in optimal design for quantitative high-throughput screening and a value-of-information framework for regulatory decision-making. He honed his communication skills through teaching and consulting roles at Carleton. Since joining Risk Sciences International in 2023, his focus has been on applying the VOI framework and developing health-based guideline values for chemicals.
Categories: scientific and technical
« Back to Glossary Index