Förlustkälla

Förlustkälla is a term used in Swedish business context to describe a factor or event that can cause financial or operational losses for an organization. It denotes the source or driver of losses, rather than a specific loss itself, and is often used in risk assessment and management to structure potential threats.

Loss sources can be internal or external. Internal sources include process failures, human error, fraud, IT incidents, and inefficiencies in operations or supply chains. External sources cover market and credit risks, price volatility, supplier insolvencies, regulatory penalties, political or economic changes, natural disasters, and currency fluctuations. By categorizing loss sources, a company can better understand where exposures originate and how likely and severe consequences might be.

In practice, identifying förlustkällor is the first step in a risk management process. Organizations typically map loss sources to business processes, assess likelihood and potential impact, and prioritize them using risk scoring or heat maps. This informs decisions about controls, insurance, diversification, hedging, and contingency planning. Ongoing monitoring and reporting help adjust the assessment as circumstances change.

The term is common in Swedish risk management and accounting contexts, and while it conveys a clear concept, it is not a rigid technical term with a single fixed definition. It is often used interchangeably with “risk source” or “loss driver” in descriptive discussions.