risikobehov

Risikobehov is a Norwegian term used in risk management to describe the degree to which a risk is deemed necessary to address through intervention. It reflects not only the likelihood and potential impact of a harmful event, but also the vulnerability of those affected and the feasibility of mitigation measures.

In practice, risikobehov guides prioritization and resource allocation. Through structured risk assessments, organizations estimate the risk level and translate it into a need for action. Scoring systems, risk matrices, and thresholds help determine which risks warrant intervention and to what extent, given available time, personnel, and money.

Risikobehov is used across sectors such as health care, social services, public safety, environmental management, and corporate governance. Examples include deciding whether to implement preventive visits for high-risk patients, intensify home-based support for vulnerable families, or allocate surveillance and protective actions for elevated threats.

Benefits of applying risikobehov include more transparent decision making, better alignment of actions with potential harm, and more efficient use of limited resources. Critics warn that the approach relies on data quality and may undervalue less measurable factors, require continuous review, and risk introducing bias if assessments are poorly designed.

See also: risk assessment, risk management, triage, prioritization, proportionality.