The risk register has forty lines. None of them has changed a decision.

A risk register that has never altered a budget, a contract term or a refusal isn't governance: it's a document produced for an audience. Here's how to tell.

By Steve 5 min read
Abstract bridge artwork for The risk register has forty lines. None of them has changed a decision.

Most risk registers begin life because someone outside the business asked for one. A tender pack, an insurer, a new non-executive, a bank facility. It gets built, it gets populated, and it gets reviewed on a quarterly cycle where the discussion consists of confirming that the ratings are broadly unchanged. Then everyone moves on to the numbers. The diagnostic question is not whether the register is thorough. It is whether any line on it has ever caused the business to spend money it wasn’t going to spend, refuse work it…

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Important: General information only. Rialto Bridge articles describe patterns and considerations that may apply to a business; they are not financial, legal, tax or accounting advice, and they take no account of your particular circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a qualified professional before acting.

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