Browsing by Author "Hamilton, Paul D."

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Benchmarking risk management within the international water utility sector. Part I: Design of a capability maturity methodology.
    (Taylor & Francis, 2007-01-31T00:00:00Z) MacGillivray, Brian H.; Sharp, J. V.; Strutt, J. E.; Hamilton, Paul D.; Pollard, Simon J. T.
    Risk management in the water utility sector is becoming increasingly explicit. However, due to the novelty and complexity of the discipline, utilities are encountering difficulties in defining and institutionalising their risk management processes. In response, the authors have developed a sector specific capability maturity methodology for benchmarking and improving risk management. The research, conducted in consultation with water utility practitioners, has distilled risk management into a coherent, process-based framework. We identified eleven risk management processes, and eight key attributes with characterise the extent to which these processes are defined, controlled and institutionalised. Implementation of the model should enable utilities to more effectively employ their portfolio of risk analysis techniques for optimal, credible and defensible decision making.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Benchmarking risk management within the international water utility sector. Part II: A survey of eight water utilities.
    (Taylor & Francis, 2007-01-31T00:00:00Z) MacGillivray, Brian H.; Sharp, J. V.; Strutt, J. E.; Hamilton, Paul D.; Pollard, Simon J. T.
    Risk management in the water utility sector is fast becoming explicit. Here, we describe application of a capability model to benchmark the risk management maturity of eight water utilities from the UK, Australia and the USA. Our analysis codifies risk management practice and offers practical guidance as to how utilities may more effectively employ their portfolio of risk analysis techniques for optimal, credible, and defensible decision making. For risk analysis, observed good practices include the use of initiation criteria for applying risk assessment techniques; the adoption of formalised procedures to guide their application; and auditing and peer reviews to ensure procedural compliance and provide quality assurance. Additionally, we have identified common weaknesses likely to be representative of the sector as a whole, in particular a need for improved risk knowledge management and education and training in the discipline.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    A commentary on recent water safety initiatives in the context of water utility risk management.
    (Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam., 2006-12-01T00:00:00Z) Hamilton, Paul D.; Gale, Paul; Pollard, Simon J. T.
    Over the last decade, suppliers of drinking water have recognised the limitations of relying solely on end-product monitoring to ensure safe water quality and have sought to reinforce their approach by adopting preventative strategies where risks are proactively identified, assessed and managed. This is leading to the development of water safety plans; structured ‘route maps’ for managing risks to water supply, from catchment to consumer taps. This paper reviews the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) procedure on which many water safety plans are based and considers its appropriateness in the context of drinking water risk management. We examine water safety plans in a broad context, looking at a variety of monitoring, optimisation and risk management initiatives that can be taken to improve drinking water safety. These are cross-compared using a simple framework that facilitates an integrated approach to water safety. Finally, we look at how risk management practices are being integrated across water companies and how this is likely to affect the future development of water safety pl
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Risk analysis and management in the water utility sector - a review of drivers, tools and techniques
    (Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2004-03-01T00:00:00Z) Pollard, Simon J. T.; Strutt, J. E.; MacGillivray, Brian H.; Hamilton, Paul D.; Hrudey, Steve E.
    The provision of wholesome, affordable and safe drinking water that has the trust of customers is the goal of the international water utility sector. Risk management, in terms of protecting the public health from pathogenic and chemical hazards has driven and continues to drive developments within the sector. In common with much of industry, the water sector is formalizing and making explicit approaches to risk management and decision-making that have formerly been implicit. Here, we review the risk management frameworks and risk analysis tools and techniques used within the water sector, considering their application at the strategic, programme and operational levels of decision- making. Our analysis extends the application beyond that of public health to issues of financial risk management, reliability and risk-based maintenance and the application of business risk maturity models.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Risk analysis strategies in the water utility sector: an inventory of applications for better and more credible decision-making
    (Taylor & Francis, 2006-03-01T00:00:00Z) MacGillivray, Brian H.; Hamilton, Paul D.; Strutt, J. E.; Pollard, Simon J. T.
    Financial pressures, regulatory reform, and sectoral restructuring are requiring water utilities to move from technically inclined, risk-averse management approaches toward more commercial, business-oriented practices. Risk analysis strategies and techniques traditionally applied to public health protection are now seeing broader application for asset management, assessing competition risks, and potential threats to the security of supplies. Water utility managers have to consider these risks alongside one another, employ a range of techniques, and devise business plans that prioritize resources on the basis of risk. We present a comprehensive review of risk analysis and management strategies for application in the water utility sector at the strategic, program, and operational levels of decision making.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Risk management capabilities - Towards 'mindfulness' for the international water utility sector
    (2006-12-31T00:00:00Z) Pollard, Simon J. T.; Strutt, J. E.; MacGillivray, Brian H.; Sharp, J. V.; Hrudey, Steve E.; Hamilton, Paul D.; Clive Thompson and John Gray
    Public health protection must be the primary goal of a drinking water utility; delivered through supplying safe drinking water. For complex multi-utilities, this goal may come under pressure from the need to manage a plethora of business risks. We describe a risk management maturity model for assessing the capacity of utilities to manage business risks and comment on the importance of ‘mindfulness' as a prerequisite for effective risk managemen
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Tools and techniques - what we need or what people think we want?
    (2005-04-06T00:00:00Z) Hamilton, Paul D.; MacGillivray, Brian H.; Bradshaw, R.; Strutt, J. E.; Pollard, Simon J. T.
    INTRODUCTION: Traditionally, water utilities have carried out risk assessments in a relatively small number of fields, addressing specific safety, health and environmental (SHE) risk concerns. In the last few years, however, the use of risk techniques has been extended as these companies increasingly seek to establish sound risk governance throughout all levels of their business to safeguard the interests of their customers and investors. Many new techniques have been imported from other process industries (offshore, energy supply, nuclear) and other businesses and financial institutions. In many respects, risk management is a practitioner led discipline and as such, its development and implementation within water utilities can vary significantly according to their size, operations, ownership and leadership, as well as the political, economic, legislative and regulatory frameworks in which they operate. As part of the ongoing AwwaRF Project 2939 ‘Risk analysis strategies for more credible and defensible decisions, studies have been undertaken in order to better understand the current level of application of risk analysis within the sector and to identify sector-specific views on key implementation issues. This research has realised the development of a maturity model for assessing capabilities in risk management and has also included a series of structured interviews with utility risk managers and industry spokespeople. Between 13th May, 2004 and 25th January, a total of sixteen interviews were conducted with specialists from five different countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States). Fifteen work primarily within the water sector; the sixteenth works for an energy company. A full summary of this research and its findings will be published in the AwwaRF Project Report. With regard to the topic of risk analysis tools and techniques in the sector, the following key issues emerged:  Does anyone use the risk management frameworks in practice? Are they useful and practical?  What are the practical limits of, and people views of quantitative risk analysis techniques?  Should we and how do we make consistent the various tools and techniques for risk management across utility companies?