TABLE OF CONTENTS Although subsequent chapters discuss possible additions to the risk assessment, many will, at least initially, want to work solely with the results of the risk assessment methodology described in Chapters 3 through 7. Therefore, this chapter discusses some data management issues and then begins the natural progression from risk assessment to risk management.
Risk assessment is, at its core, a measurement process. As noted in Chapter 1, there is a discipline, perhaps even an art to measuring. This involves a philosophy with a clear understanding of the intent of the measuring. Furthermore, it requires defined processes and structure for performing the measurements including all associated data handling efforts.
Having accumulated some risk assessment data, the next step is to prepare that data for decision making. Guidance on data management issues that will often arise in the risk assessment process is offered here. Some of these issues may not be apparent until the later stages of the effort, so advance planning will help ensure an efficient process. The numerical techniques that help extract information from data are discussed here. Using that information in decision making is also discussed and then more fully detailed in Chapter 15, Risk Management.
Risk assessment is a data-intensive process. It synthesizes all available information into new information risk values, either relative or absolute. The philosophy behind data collection is discussed in Chapters 1 and 2.
The risk values themselves become information that must be managed. All through this book the risk model ...
