Reducing the Risks Faced by Small Businesses:The Lifecycle Concept

Sophie Clusel (1, 2) , Franck Guarnieri (1) , Christophe Martin (1, 3) , Didier Lagarde (2)

1 CRC - Centre de recherche sur les Risques et les Crises
2 AFNOR - Association Française de Normalisation
3 ESAIP Grasse

The deployment of a comprehensive risk management approach within an SME (Small or Medium-sized Enterprise) requires reconsideration of enduring preconceptions. However, it also calls for a description and explanation of their idiosyncrasies, in relation to their specific needs and expectations, which change over time. It is therefore appropriate to use the lifecycle concept to study the various phases of development of SMEs. The concept highlights the modifications and changes in configuration that this type of organization experiences during its development. This article aims to define and legitimize the use of the lifecycle concept as a basic component of a global risk management approach in an SME. It describes an operational approach to reducing vulnerability based on the level of organizational maturity.

Mots clés: Life cycle; risk

Domaines: Sciences de l'Homme et Société; Gestion des risques et des crises

Sophie Clusel, Franck Guarnieri, Christophe Martin, Didier Lagarde. Reducing the Risks Faced by Small Businesses:The Lifecycle Concept. European Safety and Reliability Conference: Advances in Safety, Reliability and Risk Management, ESREL 2011, Sep 2011, Troyes, France. pp.1759-1767 - ISBN 9780415683791. ⟨hal-00660192⟩