Executive Briefing

COMPANIES

U.S. Firms Better At Managing Risks

Large U.S. companies are ratcheting up their skills in pinpointing and managing critical business risks.

At the same time, a 2007 U.S. Risk Barometer study issued by risk consultant Protiviti says almost half of execs rated their firms less than "very effective" at identifying and juggling major risks.

Protiviti says this leaves firms vulnerable to losses, reduced productivity and disruptions.

"The good news is that 53% of companies surveyed perceive themselves to be 'very effective' at managing risk," said Protiviti managing director Everett Gibbs. "The not-so-good news is that 47% of large companies are still below par in managing their risks. This should be a wake-up call to senior management, the board and investors."

HUMAN RESOURCES

Jobs Fuel HR As A Career

A poll shows that most people choose human resources as a career because of job availability.

Mercer Human Resource Consulting says that 44% of respondents in the global survey indicated job opportunities were the deciding factor.

Other key reasons included academic graduation or specialty and chances for career development. Twenty-two percent chose HR based on academic factors, while 16% did so for development reasons.

EMPLOYEES

Bad Workers As Cat's Meow

A news item from Thailand last week piqued U.S. interest in comparative managing techniques.

Thai cops who break police rules now face a novel form of punishment. They are being forced to wear hot pink armbands featuring "Hello Kitty," the trademark for a cute line of Japanese kids toys, as a mark of shame, a senior officer said.

Cops who punch in late for work or break other rules must wear the armband at their office all day.

"This new twist is expected to make them feel guilt and shame," said a police colonel. "(Hello) Kitty is a cute icon for young girls. It's not something macho police officers want covering their biceps."

According to U.S. management experts, a raft of laws shield U.S. employees from such punishments in the workplace. But management consultant John Challenger says the U.S. practices its own brand of worker humiliation.

"We call it bullying," said Challenger, who heads up global outplacer Challenger, Gray & Christmas. "People are yelled at during meetings, singled out for arriving late or isolated at lunch."

He also says the U.S. dishes out its own version of Hello Kitty punishment for top honchos who err. "(American-style) public humiliation is publicly raking people's names over the coals," Challenger said. "If a CEO lies on his resume or has an affair, everybody in the world knows about it."