Current analyses of risk are dominated by Beck’s (1992) notion that a risk society now exists whereby we have become more concerned about our impact upon nature than the impact of nature upon us. Beck (1992)refers to these risks as ‘manufactured uncertainties’ and observes that it is paradoxical that they can arise out of a desire to reduce risk.
In defining risk for this study disclosures have been judged to be risk disclosures if the reader is informed of any opportunity or prospect, or of any hazard, danger, harm, threat or exposure, that has already impacted upon the company or may impact upon the company in the future or of the management of any such opportunity, prospect, hazard, harm, threat or exposure. This is a broad definition of risk and embraces ‘good’ and ‘bad’ ‘risks’ and ‘uncertainties’. The rationale for the adoption of this definition is that it accords with Lupton’s (1999) discussions of how risk is most widely understood.
The risk disclosures identified in the study were categorised using a risk model developed by one of the professional accountancy firms (ICAEW, 1998) and subsequently used by Kaju¨ ter (2001) within a risk disclosure study. The six risk categories consist of financial risks, operations risks, empowerment risks, information processing and technology risks, integrity risks and strategic risks and Appendix A details the
types of risks that fall within each of the categories.