To link a Risk to an Objective, the User clicks the blue “+” link to expose a dropdown field that can be scrolled or searched to find and select a risk. If a User types a Risk name in the search field and the Risk does not already exist in the system, the User will be given the option to add the risk to the system. Selecting this option will take the User to the Risk Details screen to fill in the appropriate details for the Risk. The User can click the back button in their browser to return to the Objectives & Risks console.

If the organization is using the Portfolio feature, then Standard Users will only be able to see and attach Risks from Portfolios that they have access to. Admin Users can view and attach all Risks.

Once the User clicks the risk to select and attach it, the objective screen will update as shown below.

When making links between Risks and Objectives, Users may find it helpful to consider the Risk Events that, if they were to occur, would hinder (or help) the organization’s ability to achieve each Objective. These can be thought of as Risks “To” the Objective. Users may then wish to consider Risks “From” the Objective, such as new risks that the organization will face as a result of pursuing the Objective.

Once a Risk is attached to an Objective, it will be listed by Risk name and will be accompanied by its numerical Risk Rank. The Rank number will also serve as the identifier for the risk in the accompanying Heat Map for the associated Strategic Category.

In addition to rank, the Residual Risk Score status will be shown in a colored light that corresponds to the location on the Heat Map where the Risk would be placed based on its Residual Risk Score. This status light corresponds to the light in the Scoring Section of the Risk Details screen, as previously described in this article. If the Risk has an active Indicator Alert associated with it, it will be shown in front of the Risk name.

A User can continue this process to attach additional Risks to the Objective. Risks will be listed vertically under the Objective name in order of Risk Rank.

There is no limit to the number of Risks that can be attached to an Objective, however, if there are more than 10 attached Risks, only the first 10 by rank order will be shown and a blue “view all risks” link will appear at the bottom of the section. Clicking this link will take the User to the Enterprise Risk Console, which will be filtered to show all of the Risks associated with the Objective.

To view the details of a Risk, a user can click on the blue Risk name to open the Risk Details screen. They can also open the Risk Details by clicking on the Risk’s circle in the associated Heat Map.

To remove / detach a Risk from an Objective, the User must click on the Risk to open the Risk Details screen. There they can scroll to the Strategic Objectives section and remove the Risk from the Strategic Objective. Removing a Risk from a Strategic Objective deletes the relationship between the records but does not otherwise affect either the Objective or the Risk.

(Note that Users of Essential Strategy have additional options for attaching and removing Risks from Objectives).