Risk Management in the Digital Economy

Abstract

The digital economy has been generated by radical changes to every aspect of business and commerce in the last two decades. These changes are far more significant than the developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) that have largely facilitated the digital economy itself. Every business sector has witnessed changes in the competitive structure of the marketplace, consumer preferences, buying habits, marketing and promotional strategies, production operations, internal administration systems, supply chain arrangements, and the opening up of the global economy. Managers would concede that the uncertainties and risks in running their businesses, as a result of such changes, are not only much greater than previously but increasing. However, the digital economy is a two-edged sword in the sense that the ICTs generating the additional uncertainties and risks also provide the means to enable decision makers to manage them more effectively. The key to survival in the digital economy rests with the abilities of the managers to utilize ICTs effectively to manage uncertainties and risks.