ABSTRACT

Risk is the single most prevalent and enduring factor that influences every individual, organization, and society. People often seek protection from negative risk events, but also seek to take advantage of opportunities arising from positive risk events. We may feel overwhelmed by messages encountered in daily interactions with media and society, contributing to a sense of ambiguity over how to act in response to risk-related information and misinformation. We seek to leverage evidence and reason to find our own balance between both positive and negative outcomes in an uncertain world. This groundbreaking book delivers practical concepts and tools that empower readers to leverage innovations in risk science to improve their abilities to interpret, assess, communicate, and handle risk. It provides a practical non-quantitative approach to understanding the risk and making better decisions involving risk.

Think RISK covers several key themes in risk science: a) the main goals and strategies for understanding and managing risk; b) how readers can inform their risk stances by considering their own individual values and mission; c) the difference between risk and safety, and how that difference is critical for managing the risk; d) the role of psychological factors when understanding and managing the risk; e) the role of communication when understanding and managing the risk; and f) the general importance and incentives for effectively understanding and managing the risk.

Written for business professionals in all private and public sectors, this book will also be relevant to non-business professionals such as medical practitioners and policymakers and would be an ideal fit for executive education and seminar-style courses in universities, corporate book clubs, and training seminars. Because it’s based on foundational and scientifically accepted ideas and principles, the book should remain relevant for many years.

part Rule 1|2 pages

Risk is the single most constant and enduring factor in our lives and professions

chapter 1|6 pages

The heart of risk science makes sense

chapter 3|7 pages

Risk is about knowledge

part Rule 2|2 pages

We do have some control, but not full control. When we accept this, we can actively manage that risk

chapter 4|6 pages

You have some control

chapter 5|8 pages

Risk is not objective

chapter 6|8 pages

We are all biased

chapter 7|16 pages

The message matters

chapter 8|10 pages

Risk is not just about dollars

part Rule 3|1 pages

Risk can be a good thing

chapter 10|14 pages

Risk management is worth the time and energy

chapter 11|3 pages

To manage risk is for our own benefit

chapter 12|10 pages

Piecing it all together

Examples of the risk science process

chapter 13|2 pages

Conclusion