Enterprise risk management has always been important. However, the events of the twenty-first century have made it even more critical. Nature has caused massive disruption, such as the tsunami that hit Fukushima in March 2011. Terrorism has seemed to be on the rise, with attacks occurring in the USA, Europe, and Russia with greater regularity, not to mention the even more common occurrences in the Middle East. Human activities meant to provide benefits such as food modification and medicine have led to unintended consequences. The generation of energy involves highly politicized trade-offs between efficient electricity and carbon emissions, with the macro-level risk of planetary survival at stake. Oil transport has experienced traumatic events to include the BP oil spill in 2010. Risks can arise in many facets of business. Businesses in fact exist to cope with risk in their area of specialization. But chief executive officers are responsible to deal with any risk fate throws at their organization.

企业风险管理一直以来都很重要。然而，二十一世纪的事件使它变得更加重要。大自然造成了大规模的破坏，比如2011年3月袭击福岛的海啸。恐怖主义似乎在上升，袭击发生在美国、欧洲和俄罗斯的次数越来越多，更不用说在中东更常见的事件了。人类活动的本意是提供食品改良和医药等好处，但却导致了意想不到的后果。能源的产生涉及到高效电力和碳排放之间高度政治化的权衡，而宏观层面的行星生存风险岌岌可危。石油运输经历了创伤事件，包括2010年英国石油公司的漏油事件。风险可能出现在业务的许多方面。事实上，企业的存在是为了应对其专业领域的风险。但首席执行官有责任应对命运给公司带来的任何风险。