Risk management in small- and medium-sized enterprises

Risk management is a major issue for companies. But risk and risk management, although a sensitive and current subject, are rather ill-defined, which cause difficulties to companies, and specifically small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The research presented proposes an innovative and generic approach based on fundamental hypotheses: Risk is the most powerful driver and issue in industrial activities and management by risk is a high level management approach integrating all other company preoccupation. Management by risk is a global process, and a driver for business process innovation. Its deployment needs to be supported by a knowledge base coupled to a decision support system. This approach has been developed notably through the European project PRIMA (Project RIsk MAnagement), IST-1999-10193, 00-02. The specific case of the SME is finally considered.