Case Study: Integrated Risk Management at African Energy Corporation
African Energy Corporation (AEC), a leading energy company based in South Africa, faced significant challenges in managing risks across its diverse operations. The company's siloed approach to risk management led to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and potential threats to its strategic objectives.
Case Study: Global Tech Solutions’ Risk Management Transformation in 2025
Case Study: Global Tech Solutions’ Risk Management Transformation in 2025 Theme: General Risk Date: December 2024 Background: Global Tech Solutions (GTS), a multinational technology company, faced unprecedented challenges in 2025 as it navigated an increasingly complex risk landscape. With operations spanning 50 countries and a workforce of 100,000 employees, GTS recognised the need to revolutionise……...
Case Study: Transforming Strategic Decision-Making in a South African Financial Services Group – Leveraging Mental Models for Quantitative Risk Analysis
This case study examines how a major South African financial services group transformed its approach to risk management by leveraging mental models to improve executive engagement with quantitative risk analysis. By mapping executive mindsets, using scenario planning, and translating statistical outputs into business-centric stories, the organisation bridged the gap between technical risk management and strategic decision-making. This process resulted in more data-driven, resilient, and agile leadership, with improved resource allocation and risk-informed culture. The experience highlights the critical value of mental models, cross-disciplinary dialogue, and scenario-based learning within the African context (Roberts, 2022; IRMSA, 2025; Kahneman, 2011).
Case Study: Navigating Risk Management Challenges in African Business Operations
African businesses face a complex and evolving risk landscape, with challenges ranging from economic instability to cybersecurity threats. This case study examines the risk management strategies employed by a large South African grocery retailer operating across the continent.
Case Study: Environmental Scanning and Strategic Transformation – The Netflix Example
Environmental scanning is a critical process for organisations seeking to adapt and thrive in dynamic markets. This case study examines Netflix's strategic transformation, driven by effective environmental scanning, as it transitioned from a DVD rental service to a global streaming giant. By leveraging insights from its external and internal environments, Netflix not only adapted to market changes but also set new industry standards.
Case Study: From Register to Resilience at Meridian Water Services
Meridian Water Services, a fictional regional utility, maintained a mature enterprise risk register covering infrastructure deterioration, electricity interruptions, chemical-supply failure, cyber incidents, skills shortages and reputational risk. Although risks were assigned owners, scored and reviewed by the Risk and Audit Committee, the register treated them largely as separate exposures.
A severe storm exposed this limitation. Electricity and telecommunications failures, damaged transport routes, interrupted chemical supplies and misinformation on social media occurred simultaneously. The organisation’s existing register identified these risks but did not adequately reveal their interdependencies, the vulnerabilities of critical services or the decision-making challenges created by a compound disruption.
Following the event, Meridian adopted a strategic resilience approach. It identified critical services, including safe water treatment and distribution, mapped dependencies such as power, fuel, skilled staff, chemicals, technology and public trust, and tested these through disruption scenarios. The organisation introduced alternative supplier arrangements, strengthened backup capacity, clarified emergency delegations, created a common operating picture and improved crisis communications.
A cross-functional resilience group coordinated risk, operations, technology, procurement, finance, communications and assurance. Internal audit assessed whether resilience arrangements were practical and effective, rather than merely documented. Meridian retained its risk register but repositioned it as an intelligence tool supporting resilience investment, preparedness, learning and strategic decision-making.
Case Study: Risk Implementation Challenges MTN Group in Africa
MTN Group, a multinational telecommunications company operating across Africa, recognized the critical importance of enterprise risk management (ERM) in achieving its strategic objectives. As a major player in the telecommunications industry, MTN faced numerous challenges, including regulatory pressures, political instability, and rapidly evolving technology (MTN Group, 2017).
Case Study: The Role of Cyberpsychology in Preventing a Social Engineering Attack
This case study explores how AlphaBank used cyberpsychology principles to prevent social engineering attacks following a financial breach. By addressing cognitive biases, stress management, and employee training, the organisation reduced phishing success rates by 75%. The study highlights the importance of integrating psychological insights into cybersecurity strategies for effective risk mitigation.
Case Study: Addressing the Skills Shortage in Risk Management at Imperial Logistics
Imperial Logistics, a leading logistics and supply chain company operating across Africa, has been grappling with a significant challenge in recent years: a shortage of qualified risk management professionals. This skills gap has become increasingly critical as the company faces a complex and evolving risk landscape in its operations across the continent (Imperial Logistics, 2020).
Case Study: Disinformation-Induced Crisis in a Financial Services Firm
A financial firm faced a major crisis after a disinformation campaign falsely accused it of ESG misconduct. Rapid investor withdrawals, reputational damage, and operational disruption followed. The firm recovered by implementing real-time monitoring, crisis protocols, and integrated risk governance—highlighting the urgent need for resilience against information disorder in risk management.