What is the first step of the Operational Risk Management (ORM) process?

What is the first step of the Operational Risk Management (ORM) process?

• A. Define Mission Tasks
• B. Identify Hazards
• C. Assess Risk
• D. Identify Options

Answer: (A)

Defining the mission and the tasks involved sets the scope and purpose for the entire risk management effort. You can’t properly surface hazards or judge how risky something is until you know exactly what needs to be done and in what sequence. By laying out the mission and the specific tasks, everyone shares a common understanding of what success looks like and what activities will occur, which makes identifying hazards comprehensive and risk assessment meaningful. For example, if the mission is a nighttime navigation exercise, listing tasks like route planning, vehicle checks, navigation execution, and post-mission debrief clarifies where hazards might arise (poor visibility, equipment failure, fatigue) and what controls are needed. Once these tasks are defined, you can systematically identify hazards, assess their risk, and develop and implement mitigations before moving to the next steps.

Defining the mission and the tasks involved sets the scope and purpose for the entire risk management effort. You can’t properly surface hazards or judge how risky something is until you know exactly what needs to be done and in what sequence. By laying out the mission and the specific tasks, everyone shares a common understanding of what success looks like and what activities will occur, which makes identifying hazards comprehensive and risk assessment meaningful. For example, if the mission is a nighttime navigation exercise, listing tasks like route planning, vehicle checks, navigation execution, and post-mission debrief clarifies where hazards might arise (poor visibility, equipment failure, fatigue) and what controls are needed. Once these tasks are defined, you can systematically identify hazards, assess their risk, and develop and implement mitigations before moving to the next steps.