List and explain the three step risk analysis process and list resources - Personal Statement Example

SECURITY AND LOSS PREVENTION ID Number: of of School Submission: September 28, 2011SECURITY AND LOSS PREVENTIONBefore the September 11 terrorist attacks, the United States of America had felt a sense of security. This feeling was badly shattered when the terrorists succeeded in penetrating the US defenses without much effort. Nobody at that time had ever conceived the idea of using martyrs in a suicidal attack using passenger jetliners but this idea had a precedent when the Japanese had used it against the U.S. navy during the latter stages of World War II in a desperate attempt to at least delay their inevitable military defeat although kamikaze pilots were not very successful.

At any rate, it is always better to be prepared for any eventuality although admittedly, it is virtually impossible to prepare adequately for anything and everything. However, having good plans in place is better than having no plan at all that can deal with a contingency whenever it so happens. The most crucial part of security planning and loss prevention is critical thinking. This is the ability to think and ask the tough questions other people may hesitate to ask. Further, it is a way to get out of the box-mindset and adopt a different attitude from the business as usual.

In his book, author Philip P. Purpura postulates critical thinking as the cognitive ability of analysis, the interpretation, the explanation and the evaluation of ones own reasoning, to even include ability to question ones conclusions and judgment in a continuous process of assessment (2008, p. 4).In this regard, there is a highly-recommended three-step risk analysis process that is to be followed in order to have a good grasp of the security situation. It is the rational and orderly way of identifying a problem, determining its probability of occurring and finding solutions.

The objective of this process is to also estimate the loss in case of an adverse event happening. This 3 step process is discussed in much greater detail in the next page. Conducting a loss prevention survey – this first step takes into consideration all possible threats, hazards, vulnerabilities and weaknesses that can threaten security and survival. Purpose of this activity is to assess probable adverse events based on certain conditions such as weather, geography, fire protection systems, pending litigation, proximate presence of nearby hazardous materials (nuclear, chemical, biological, etc.) and all other identifiable threats to include social, political and economic conditions.

The survey is actually a questionnaire in the form of checklist to make sure everything is covered during the discussion and assessment of threats. Identifying the vulnerabilities – this is the result of the survey done earlier. By this time, it is now possible to narrow down on the threats most likely to occur based on high probability. This second step is to focus all attention and efforts on the most immediate threat from all other threats which had been considered in the survey questionnaire.

By identifying probable threats, it is now possible to prepare for this threat, such as taking the necessary precautions, stocking up of any materials (food, medicine, water, etc.) in case of natural calamities and inform the people.Determining the probability, frequency and cost – this third and last step is actually the admission that some events cannot be prevented at all but can be mitigated if plans are in place. An example would be a severe drought this year caused by changed weather patterns due to the global warming phenomenon and the resultant climate change.

It might be very unlikely for the same drought to hit next year in the same locality; it may be more probable that next year, there will be floods instead due to the alternating weather phenomena of La Nina and El Nino pattern. So, a security and loss prevention strategy would be to prepare for flooding so that scarce funds and other resources are put to the best use possible and maximized for the greatest benefit. Reference ListPurpura, P. P. (2008). An introduction: security and loss prevention (5th ed.). Burlington, MA, USA: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.