People who have spent some time reviewing the MobiRisk methodology eventually arrive at the question on the difference between the static and the dynamic phases. The simple answer to this is that there are none. But in truth, the answer is a bit more complex than that. While there may not be significant differences in the steps to be executed in each of the phases, the context in which these steps are taken are significantly different, which impacts both the scope of the step and the duration and related investment in the step. Static steps are broad in scope, take a significant amount of time and therefore investment, whereas dynamic steps are narrower in scope and take significantly less time. This actually is the essence of the methodology.
Okay, let’s be more concrete and use an example I have been using since 2002 to illustrate this.
The Arctic illustration
Imagine yourself suddenly, magically transported to the coastal regions of the Arctic (North Pole area), with a large box and assurances that most of what you need to survive is present in that box. What do you do? Well, after screaming for a bit, you will eventually settle down and …
Static phase
… you will take a scan of your surroundings, making sure there are no immediate threats to your well being. You scan your environment and assess the situation and the event potential around you. Once you are fairly certain nothing can directly impact you, you will open the box. On top of a lot of other tools you find a wonderful, white, warm jacket and a pair of polar pants. There is also a cute little red hat and a pair of sunglasses. You put on the pants, the jacket and the red hat (remember, it’s freezing cold there) and you put on the sunglasses and do another 360° observation scan. Once assured nothing threatens you, you assess the contents of the box: you notice it’s a very large box, with in it a big gun, labeled ‘for shooting polar bears, only when life is threatened’ and a fold-up chair. It also contains some army meals which heat up when you pull the tab, and a large thermos of warm coffee or the stimulating drink of your choice. You take out the chair and decide to have a bite to eat … which you do.
In essence, you have assessed a new situation in which you have been put, as completely as possible with the available tools, and you have dealt with key concerns such as hunger, thirst, safety and comfort. You are in your chair, looking around and deciding the arctic region is, in effect, a very nice region to be in …
The static phase, whether used for an individual or an organization, entails an as complete as possible inventory of key risks which could threaten the objectives. In case of an individual, this would be survival, in case of an organisation, survival can be a key element too. After this time-intensive an first priority inventory and assessment, corrective actions need to be taken. Quite often these actions need to be developed from scratch, and this too requires time and effort. The static phase is therefore time and resource intensive.
Dynamic phase
… when suddenly, you become aware of the relative heat of the sun on you new jacket. It is getting hot … but you quickly figure out there are a number of zipper controlled ‘vents’ in the jacket which you can use to control airflow through the vest. Having dealt with this, you turn your attention to your surroundings once more, and you notice a small spec in the distance. You dig in the box for your binoculars, and focus on what appears to be … oh no, a polar bear with a very hungry and determined demeanor, at full speed, running straight at you. You intuitively check whether you consider your life to be in danger. The answer, alas, is positive, so you turn around, grab the gun, aim and fire at the polar bear …
But you are not a very good shot. You have missed. You aim again, pull the trigger again, and are rewarded with a small “snap” sound of the trigger hitting the backend of the trigger guard. You are out of bullets. Meanwhile, the polar bear is getting dangerously close. What now. You reassess your options and quickly scan the small letters on the side of the box. You have not read these small letters, which state “Will protect one (1) person from polar bear attack.” You jump in the box, slam the lid shut, but not before smelling the foul breath of the polar bear … but you are safe … and you fall asleep, happy to have survived this ordeal.
In essence, you have reassessed the known situation based on the changes in this situation, and focused only on dealing with the changes, not with the rest of your reality which remained unchanged and in essence under control.
The dynamic phase, whether used for an individual or an organization, entails an assessment of the changes in a known situation which is considered under control. Any change with a potential of threatening the objectives needs to be dealt with, but after the initial and significant investment of the static phase, the subsequent investment in dealing with these changes is significantly lower. The economy of using MobiRisk comes to bear (pun very much intended) only fully during the dynamic phase.
We will leave you in your safe box, and return to reality. Let’s hear it for the comments …
