Risk Management and Decision-Making Program

Master uncertainty to optimize outcomes

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

August 8, 2024

Course Duration

DURATION

6 weeks, online
4-6 hours per week

Course Fee
Course Fee

For Your Team

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MANAGE RISK WITH CONFIDENCE

Success in today's energy sector hinges on the understanding of risk and opportunity, with data-driven management, analytics, and strategic planning becoming crucial skills for executives. Energy organizations must learn how to thrive in the face of an uncertain future, and energy leaders must rethink how to drive growth and manage risk.

The Risk Management and Decision-Making Program from Texas Executive Education at the McCombs School of Business is designed by expert faculty with global, cross-industry experience in decision analysis and risk management. Through a combination of expert insights, application-based activities, case studies, and peer learning, the six-week curriculum empowers energy and sustainability professionals to make informed decisions, mitigate risk, and drive growth in an unpredictable environment.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

The Risk Management and Decision-Making Program will provide you with the tools and frameworks for:

Strategic Decision-Making
Uncover sources of uncertainty and identify decision-making techniques that will help you determine whether an opportunity can be pursued without compromising quality, profits, and growth.

Qualitative Risk Analysis
Strengthen the validity of your decisions by learning qualitative approaches to assessing risk that account for nonquantifiable factors.

Quantitative Risk Analysis
Determine potential risks and develop more robust growth and mitigation strategies by leveraging analytical approaches that strengthen your decision-making.

Valuation
Assess the accuracy and value of your current sources to determine whether gathering additional data and/or information is required to make a sound decision.

Profile image of the program faculty, R Britt Freund

"The complex nature of the energy industry means that decisions carry high levels of risk, but being skilled in risk analysis gives leaders an advantage. The Risk Management and Decision-Making Program takes inspiration from analytics and applies it to the decision-making process, equipping leaders with the tools needed to make impactful, real-world decisions that account for the uncertainty and risk associated with opportunities in the energy industry."

— R, Britt Freund, Faculty Director; Professor of Information, Risk, and Operations Management

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

The Risk Management and Decision-Making Program is ideal for business leaders and sustainability professionals in the energy industry, including:

  • Energy leaders looking for a reliable set of frameworks to help them evaluate current trends, navigate high-risk decisions, and develop proactive risk management strategies that do not disrupt organizational growth
  • Mid-senior level managers who are interested in acquiring tools and techniques that will help them identify and manage global energy risks, conduct more effective scenario planning, and create risk mitigation plans
  • Project managers looking for tools to help them assess and create risk mitigation plans to meet timelines, budgets, and quality standards

CURRICULUM

This six-week program enables participants to gain hands-on experience in tackling risk and facilitating informed decision-making in the unpredictable energy sector. The curriculum, organized into weekly modules, offers flexibility in accessing study materials. Weekly activities encompass faculty sessions, assignments, and case studies, aiding participants in modeling, assessing, and mitigating risk.

Module 1:

Risk Taxonomies

Risk is an inherent part of decision-making, but understanding the level of uncertainty can help organizations choose the right framework for analyzing a decision. Learn how to evaluate investment decisions for risk factors and discover best practices for managing risk.

Module 2:

Modeling Uncertainty

Understanding risk and how to manage it can help organizations make more informed decisions. Learn how to conduct effective probability assessments that can be used for decision-making and risk management.

Module 3:

Decision Trees and the Value of Information

Now that you know the essentials of probability, how can you leverage it in the decision-making process? Learn how to conduct effective probability assessments that can be used for decision-making and risk management.

Module 4:

Assessing Probability

Biases can impact the quality of probability assessments, so how do you ensure their quality before entering the decision-making process? Discover how to remove bias from probability assessments and determine whether someone is good at assessing probability.

Module 5:

Mitigating Real-World Risk

Minimizing real-world risk requires leaders to examine the more nuanced aspects of an opportunity. Practice applying the decision-making framework to evaluate a risk you may encounter: investing in solar panels for your home.

Module 6:

Energy Decision Risk Case Study

Become proficient at identifying potential risks in a broad range of situations and evaluating the likelihood and impact of each risk. Then, immerse yourself in a case study and practice applying your knowledge of risk management to help power plants make informed decisions that mitigate risk.

Module 1:

Risk Taxonomies

Risk is an inherent part of decision-making, but understanding the level of uncertainty can help organizations choose the right framework for analyzing a decision. Learn how to evaluate investment decisions for risk factors and discover best practices for managing risk.

Module 4:

Assessing Probability

Biases can impact the quality of probability assessments, so how do you ensure their quality before entering the decision-making process? Discover how to remove bias from probability assessments and determine whether someone is good at assessing probability.

Module 2:

Modeling Uncertainty

Understanding risk and how to manage it can help organizations make more informed decisions. Learn how to conduct effective probability assessments that can be used for decision-making and risk management.

Module 5:

Mitigating Real-World Risk

Minimizing real-world risk requires leaders to examine the more nuanced aspects of an opportunity. Practice applying the decision-making framework to evaluate a risk you may encounter: investing in solar panels for your home.

Module 3:

Decision Trees and the Value of Information

Now that you know the essentials of probability, how can you leverage it in the decision-making process? Learn how to conduct effective probability assessments that can be used for decision-making and risk management.

Module 6:

Energy Decision Risk Case Study

Become proficient at identifying potential risks in a broad range of situations and evaluating the likelihood and impact of each risk. Then, immerse yourself in a case study and practice applying your knowledge of risk management to help power plants make informed decisions that mitigate risk.

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KEY PROGRAM FEATURES

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Expert Faculty

Gain in-depth insights from world-renowned faculty who are also expert practitioners with long-standing industry experience.

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Case Studies

Engage in case studies to practice applying your knowledge of risk management and make informed decisions that minimize risk.

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Peer Learning

Interact and share insights with like-minded business leaders in the energy industry from around the world.

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Application-Based Activities

Practice applying concepts such as probability trees and risk matrices to assess risk for your organization.

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Weekly Office Hours

Attend optional live weekly office hours with your course leader to ask questions about program material.

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Self-Paced Learning

Work at your own pace by accessing the week's sessions at your convenience.

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Minimal Weekly Commitment

Balance learning with your busy work schedule by dedicating just four to six hours each week to program sessions and learning activities.

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Certificate of Completion

Earn a certificate of completion from the University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business, a leader in energy research and education.

MEET THE FACULTY

Profile image of the program faculty, R Britt Freund

R. BRITT FREUND

Faculty Director; Professor of Information, Risk, and Operations Management

R. Britt Freund has spent the bulk of his almost 30-year academic career focused on the energy industry. In addition to delivering graduate courses on project management, operations strategy, supply chain, and decision analysis around the world, Freund works extensively with organizations such as ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Petrobras, Sinopec, CNPC, and Black & Veatch. His primary research, teaching, and consulting interests have been in the realm of project management, particularly the management of risk in large capital projects. His most recent work has focused on business risks living in the interface between commercial agreements and complex capital projects.

Profile image of the program faculty, J. Eric Bickel

J. Eric Bickel

Professor and Director of the Graduate Program in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering (Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering)

Eric Bickel’s research interests include the theory and practice of decision analysis. His work has addressed the modeling of probabilistic dependence, value of information, scoring rules, calibration, risk preference, decision education, decision making in sports, and climate engineering as a response to climate change. He has consulted around the world in a range of industries, including oil and gas, electricity generation/transmission/delivery, energy trading and marketing, commodity and specialty chemicals, life sciences, financial services, and metals and mining.

CERTIFICATE

CERTIFICATE

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be awarded a certificate from The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business.

After successful completion of this program, your digital certificate will be emailed to you in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of The University of Texas at Austin.

Note: This program does not grant academic credit or a degree from the McCombs School of Business.

FAQs

  • How do I know if this program is right for me?
    After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.



    Are there any prerequisites for this program?
    Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.
    Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.

    What is the typical class profile?
    More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.



    What other dates will this program be offered in the future?
    Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.



  • How much time is required each week?
    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.



    How will my time be spent?
    We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:

    • Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
    • Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
    • Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
    • Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
    • Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
    • Completing your final project, if required

    The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.



    What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?
    More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.

    All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.

    A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.



    How do I interact with other program participants?
    Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.



  • What are the requirements to earn the certificate?
    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.

    This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.

    What type of certificate will I receive?
    Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
    The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.

    Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?
    No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

    Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?
    No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.

    How long will I have access to the learning materials?
    You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.



  • What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?
    Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.

    Do I need to be online to access the program content?
    Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

    Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.



  • Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?
    Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.

    What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?
    The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.

      • Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
      • Program discount is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.

    What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?
    Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.

    I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?
    Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.

    How can I obtain an invoice for payment?
    Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.

    Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?
    Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.

    How can I obtain a W9 form?
    Please connect with us via email for assistance.

    Who will be collecting the payment for the program?
    Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.


  • What is the program refund and deferral policy?
    For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.



Didn’t find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Academic Advisors or call us at +1 361 344 4980 (US) / +44 13 8443 7887 (UK)

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Flexible payment options available. Learn more.