Risk Management in Homeland Security
Risk management refers to the process of controlling, identifying, and assessing dangers to both an organization's capital and a national security. These risks or threats could emanate from numerous sources such as legal liabilities, leadership errors, financial uncertainty, natural disasters, and accidents. Information Technology (IT) risks and information-related dangers, and the risk control to manage them have emerged to be the main priority for digitized enterprises (Crockford, 2016). Correspondingly, a risk administration plan progressively comprises of firm's processes for managing and identifying risks to its assets including proprietary corporate data, intellectual property, and client's privately distinguishable information. Therefore, this essay identifies the risk management within the homeland security enterprise.
Development of Homeland Security Enterprise
The sector of the Homeland Security enterprise was developed due to the rise of terrorist strikes of September 2001, as a section of the committed effort to protect the United States (US) in opposition to terrorism. The division is ranked at position three from the 22 distinguished federal agencies comprising of the clear role in this struggle (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2012). Since the formation of the Department, every DHS is integrated and are the result- based performance. Notably, Homeland Security enterprise is implementing a progression of broader effective policies that hold the economies of scale in the Department to recuperate thousands of million dollars and develop a culture of fiscal discipline and responsibility. Homeland Security enterprise has taken remarkable procedures to form an integrated and unified Department that will improve productivity by emphasizing leadership development, transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
Risk Management Principles in DHS
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducts a primary task in controlling a common attempt in the control of the complex and diverse set of threats affecting the United States (US). To reinforce abilities in achieving its objectives, DHS has formed risk management principles to offer a structured technique for the transportation and use of risk data and assessment of strategies across the Department (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2012). Notably, the primary principles for practical risk management include unity of effort, transparency, adaptability, customization, and practicality (Beers, 2015). The announcement suggests a comprehensive and systematic technique to homeland security choice that uses the threat to optimize the capability to realize its goals.
Reevaluating the United States' Arrangements and Policies
The United States is affected by long-term budgetary imbalance, and the task of the federal state is being structured by several agencies such as homeland policies and evolving defense. Moreover, it has been reinforced by current institutional and organizational plans for conducting public operations. Given these occurrences, there is an urgent requirement for the nation to reassess the base of its arrangements, functions, operations, and policies (U. S. Government Accountability Office, 2015). A regular reevaluation of the main tax rules and federal spending provides the anticipation for the American state to eradicate outmoded activities. The United States can suitably integrate its undertakings with the needs of the evolving world.
The Need for Resources in DHS Objectives
The US president and Congress have reached a consensus over DHS's objectives. DHS has developed complex goals for realizing its mission (Schanzer and Veronique, 2015). Nevertheless, DHS's deliberate framework does not describe the related resources essential to execute its aims and fulfill its strategic mandate. The Department for Homeland Security called for utilizing threat- based techniques to rank its investment resources concerning vital infrastructure and for devising programs and sharing assets in a method that balance freedom and security (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2012). Notably, DHS must cautiously asses the gains of homeland security enterprise efforts and distribute resources where the advantage of minimizing threats is worth the extra price.
Risk Management Challenges in Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security has indicated that it will use risk management regulations for homeland security activities. Optimally, homeland security concerns efficiently manage threats to the country's security (Homeland Security, 2015). However, this is easily said than done because of several difficulties that must be first addressed. As with everything and anything, funds come into play, with issues between local and national priorities and communities perceptions. The Department of Homeland Security has integrated multiple applications to threat management such as capabilities-based planning, strategic arrangement, operational scheduling, exercise planning, and resource decisions (U.S. Library of Congress, 2014). These exertions are generally used to aid allocate money; identify shortages and possible issues with a particular decision. Additionally, it coordinates the federal operations, tribal, territorial, and private industry partners by fusing and collecting data from multiple sources.
Risk Control and Coordination in Homeland Security
As noted earlier, risk management has distinguishable players ranging from tribal territories to the national level. Each of the above group has non- identical partners for the common objective. However, they all work as a team to reach the same mission. Notably, the Department of Homeland Security has formed systematic steps for risk control to ensure ultimate coordination division of data and assessment that helps in making the decision between agencies (U.S. Library of Congress, 2014). The procedures which ensure the process is perfect are: analyze risk, identify potential risk, develop alternatives, monitoring and evaluation, and risk communication.
Importance of Risk Control Culture in DHS
The Homeland Security enterprise was formed purposely for risk management. Because of the complex surrounding, competing incentives and interest, there must be stability for all the elements and that is why the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has developed and implemented risk management principles (Beers, 2015). An inclusive risk control techniques should be regularly used within the entire firm, especially to underpin the process of making the decision and should be designed to accommodate both external and internal risks. Considerably, the Department of Homeland Security has taken multiple measures to ensure the US is safe from risks. Further, DHS has assessed the dangers and effects using the implementation of risk management. Optimally, the sometime Secretary Chertoff noted that ''we need to make tough decisions concerning how to spend financial resources and finite capital to achieve ultimate nature of preparedness''. Because at the end of each choice, there is an ordinary denominator that is common across all departments since we all value human life.
Enhancing Security and Safety in the United States
Finally, while triumphant integration needs application across homeland security enterprise, DHS plays a significant duty in leading a common effort to control risks to the country from complex and diverse set of dangers such as manmade, natural, and terrorism. A systematic risk management plan should be applied with threat management rules into consideration. Implementing effective and consistent risk management conventions in the theatre of homeland security will enhance and promote the security, resilience, and safety of the United States. In my opinion, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should create and maintain a risk control culture via commitment from personnel and leadership and continue to establish upon the established foundation.
References
Beers, R. (2015). Risk management fundamentals. DHS.gov. April 11, 2011. Accessed April 12, 2015.
Crockford, N. (2016). An Introduction to risk management (2 ed). Cambridge, UK: Woodhead-Faulkner.
Homeland Security. (2015). About the office of operations coordination. March 15, 2015. Accessed April 12, 2015.
Schanzer, D and Veronique, R. (2015). Strategic risk management in government: A look at homeland security. Mercutus.org. 2009. Accessed April 12, 2015.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2012). Quadrennial homeland security review report: A strategic framework for a secure homeland. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
U. S. Government Accountability Office. (2015). Homeland security: Key elements of a risk management approach. Accessed April 9th, 2015.
U.S. Library of Congress (2014). The department of homeland security’s risk assessment methodology: Evolution, issues, and options for Congress. Washington, DC: Office of Congressional Information and Publishing.
