The contribution of the Life Cycle Concept to Reduced Vulnerabilities in Small Businesses

Sophie Clusel (1, 2) , Didier Lagarde (2) , Franck Guarnieri (1) , Christophe Martin (1)

1 CRC - Centre de recherche sur les Risques et les Crises
2 AFNOR - Association Française de Normalisation

The focus of this article lies in the deployment of a comprehensive risk management approach within an SME (Small or Medium-sized Enterprise) which calls for a description and explanation of their idiosyncrasies, in relation to their specific needs and expectations, which change over time. It describes the evolution of the business using the lifecycle concept which highlights the modifications and changes in configuration that this type of organization experiences during its development. This concept is used in order to characterize the vulnerabilities of SMEs using a model which brings together hazards, consequences and the stage of company development. This article aims to define and legitimize the use of the lifecycle concept as a basic component of a global risk management approach in an SME. It describes an operational approach to reducing vulnerability based on the level of organizational maturity.

Mots clés: Life cycle; vulnerability; risk

Domaines: Gestion des risques et des crises

Sophie Clusel, Didier Lagarde, Franck Guarnieri, Christophe Martin. The contribution of the Life Cycle Concept to Reduced Vulnerabilities in Small Businesses. Managing Occupational Health and Safety in Small, Culturally Diverse Workplaces: Issues and Solutions, Sep 2011, Sophia Antipolis, France. 11 p. ⟨hal-00660170⟩