Scale with Sergio: Managing Operational Risk and Uncertainty

On this episode of Scale with Sergio, host Sergio Reyes was joined by Dr. Tyson Browning, TCU professor of operations management.

The duo dove into a topic that’s been thrust into the spotlight in light of the spread of the novel coronavirus and the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic – how to best manage operational risk and uncertainty.

How well organizations were prepared for the unknown – or not prepared at all – has been revealed by the current period of uncertainty. But how, even if an organization came up short in this instance, can they prepare for the unknown that lies ahead?

First, the pair said, it’s key to outline some key distinctions.

“It’s important to distinguish uncertainty, which is all the stuff out there in the future that we don’t know exactly how it’s going to turn out … (from) risk and opportunity. There are a lot of uncertainties, but only some of them could have a negative impact, potentially, on our operation, supply chain, or project,” Browning said.

“We call these threatening, negative potential outcomes risks.”

While uncertainty and risk are certainly words that come with highly negative connotations, there are ways to navigate them.

“Overall, I like to use the kind of classical, standard five-step process for managing risk and opportunity,” Browning said. “It’s very general, and people use it more or less in many cases. It’s a good starting point.”

Those five steps are identifying risks and opportunities, assessing them, prioritizing them, responding to them, and continuing to monitor them.

To get a more in-depth idea of what goes into each step, listen to the entire episode.

Catch Up on Previous Episodes of Scale with Sergio!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

DXpedition
Icom Powers 3Y0K : Ham Radio’s Most Ambitious DXpedition to Remote Bouvet Island Part 1
July 11, 2025

Bouvet Island sits at the edge of the world. It is frozen, uninhabited, and almost impossible to access. Fewer people have set foot there than in space. That level of remoteness is exactly what makes it so valuable to amateur radio operators. The island ranks tenth on ClubLog’s list of Most Wanted DXCC entities,…

Read More
entrepreneurial success
The Hidden Key to Entrepreneurial Success: Build Momentum Through Personal Branding and Authentic Networking
July 10, 2025

What if the biggest pivot of your career started with a conversation?  In this episode of Professional Quotient, host Jason Winningham welcomes Fanny Dunagan, CEO and Content Strategist of PathLynks, LLC. Fanny shares her journey from high-pressure consulting in Singapore to founding her own media and branding company — and why learning to network…

Read More
Q2 2025
RM Q2 2025 Wrap Up
July 9, 2025

Rogue Marketing continues to lead with intention in a space often driven by noise. Q2 2025 reflected a strategic focus on substance, where each initiative supported long-term brand growth. The team transformed internal recognition efforts into enduring brand assets and refined event strategies through immersive, results-driven experiences. Website launches during the quarter balanced visual…

Read More
amateur radios
Hamvention Spotlight: Emergency Preparedness Led PrepHam Paul to Amateur Radios and a Rising Voice in the Field
July 9, 2025

PrepHam Paul (K5VLP) celebrated his first visit to Dayton Hamvention by marking a major channel milestone. He hosted a giveaway of the  IC-2370B mobile radio from Icom to thank viewers for helping him reach 10,000 subscribers. His passion for emergency preparedness, rooted in his experience as an Eagle Scout and later studies in emergency management,…

Read More