Exercise 1: Identifying Risks in Operations
Scenario:
You own a small manufacturing business that heavily relies on a single supplier for raw materials. The supplier is based in a region prone to natural disasters. Your production has been smooth so far, but you’ve recently heard about potential disruptions due to the supplier’s location.
Task:
- Identify potential risks associated with the supplier’s location.
- Evaluate the impact of these risks on your production.
- Propose strategies to mitigate the identified risks.
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Exercise 2: Financial Risk and Diversification
Scenario:
Your retail business has experienced significant growth, and you’re considering diversifying your investments to ensure financial stability. You currently invest all profits back into the business. However, you are concerned about potential economic downturns affecting your revenue.
Task:
- Assess the risks associated with your current investment strategy.
- Explore potential areas for diversification in your business.
- Develop a plan for establishing a contingency fund and its optimal size.
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Exercise 3: Operational Controls and Quality Management
Scenario:
You operate a small restaurant known for its unique recipes. Lately, there have been instances of inconsistent food quality, leading to customer complaints. You suspect that the kitchen staff might not be following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) effectively.
Task:
- Identify potential risks associated with inconsistent food quality.
- Develop SOPs for critical kitchen processes to ensure consistency.
- Propose methods for quality control and continuous improvement.
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Exercise 4: Communication During a Crisis
Scenario:
Your e-commerce business experiences a data breach, compromising customer information. News of the breach starts spreading on social media, and customers are expressing concerns.
Task:
- Develop a crisis communication plan for addressing the data breach.
- Define communication channels and protocols for informing customers.
- Engage in a role-play simulation to practice crisis communication.
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Exercise 5: Legal Compliance and Regulatory Risks
Scenario:
Your tech startup operates in a highly regulated industry. New regulations are on the horizon, and you’re concerned about the potential impact on your business operations.
Task:
- Identify upcoming regulatory changes that may affect your business.
- Develop a plan for ensuring legal compliance with the new regulations.
- Explore strategies for adapting to regulatory changes swiftly.
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These exercises are designed to apply the principles learned in the Risk Management for Small Businesses course to real-world scenarios. Work through each scenario, applying risk management concepts to enhance your business’s resilience and decision-making capabilities.