Interactive risk management system and method

Abstract

An interactive risk management system and method for a business or other organization generates a graphic display to the user, through the browser, to display a mapping of processes used in conducting the business or the affairs of the organization and allow the user to selectively view additional data, such as messages describing risks associated with the process selected. The user may navigate thorough and among the processes to access and review associated data, allowing the user to gain information about selected processes and associated risks.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . An interactive risk management system for an organization comprising:
 a computer including:
 a processor; 
 an input device; 
 a display device for displaying a graphic user interface including a browser; 
 a memory; and 
 a multi-dimensional mapping for visual display of steps of a plurality of processes carried out by the organization and at least one risk message associated with at least one of the steps, the multi-dimensional mapping being stored in the memory; 
 wherein the processor, in response to user selections through the input device, displays to the user through the browser the multi-dimensional mapping of the plurality of processes, with each of a set of the displayed processes having an associated user actuatable display region; and 
 wherein the processor, in response to user actuation of an actuatable display region of a selected step, displays to the user through the browser the at least one risk message associated with the selected step, thereby displaying to the user information about the selected step and its associated risks. 
   
     
     
         27 . The interactive risk management system of  claim 26 , wherein the memory is accessible through a computer network, whereby any user, using the browser and communicating via the computer network, may access and view the mapping and may actuate the actuatable display regions to selectively view the at least one risk message. 
     
     
         28 . The interactive risk management system of  claim 27 , wherein the computer network is an intranet. 
     
     
         29 . The interactive risk management system of  claim 27 , wherein the computer network is the Internet. 
     
     
         30 . The interactive risk management system of  claim 26 , wherein the actuatable display regions are associated with link data addressing linkable data stored in the memory; and
 wherein the processor, in responsive the actuation of a selective actuatable display region, communicates with the memory via a respective link data to retrieve the corresponding linkable data.   
     
     
         31 . The interactive risk management system of  claim 30 , wherein the link data is a hyperlink. 
     
     
         32 . The interactive risk management system of  claim 26 , wherein the processor operates mapping software to display the mapping and the plurality of steps as graphical representations on the display device. 
     
     
         33 . The interactive risk management system of  claim 32 , wherein the mapping software displays a graphical stop sign image on the display device to indicate risk information available to the user. 
     
     
         34 . The interactive risk management system of  claim 32 , wherein the mapping software is graphics software. 
     
     
         35 . The interactive risk management system of  claim 26 , wherein the mapping includes a plurality of horizontal lanes corresponding to at least one process carried out by a unit of the organization having at least one step in one of the plurality of horizontal lanes that is vertically connected to a step in a different horizontal lane that is carried out by another unit of the organization. 
     
     
         36 . An interactive risk management method for providing risk information associated with one or more of a plurality of processes of an organization, the method comprising the steps of
 providing a computer including a processor, an input device, a display device, and a memory;   displaying a graphic user interface including a browser on the display device;   storing in the memory a multi-dimensional mapping for visual display of steps of a plurality of processes carried out by the organization and at least one risk message associated with at least one of the steps;   receiving at the processor user command signals entered through the input device;   displaying to the user through the browser the multi-dimensional mapping of the plurality of processes, with each of a set of the displayed processes having an associated actuatable display region;   receiving at the processor signals corresponding to user actuation of an actuatable display region of a selected step;   displaying to the user through the browser, in response to the user actuation, the at least one risk message associated with the selected step, thereby allowing the user to gain information about the selected step and any associated risk.   
     
     
         37 . The interactive risk management method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 providing inputs by users using the input device and a browser connected to a computer network;   communicating command signals through the computer network to access and display to the user the mapping; and   actuating the actuatable display regions to selectively view the at least one risk message.   
     
     
         38 . The interactive risk management method of  claim 37 , wherein the computer network is an intranet. 
     
     
         39 . The interactive risk management method of  claim 37 , wherein the computer network is the Internet. 
     
     
         40 . The interactive risk management method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 associating actuatable display regions with link data addressing linkable data stored in the memory;   responding at the processor to actuation of a selective actuatable display region to communicate with the memory via a respective link data; and   retrieving the corresponding linkable data.   
     
     
         41 . The interactive risk management method of  claim 40 , wherein the link data is a hyperlink. 
     
     
         42 . The interactive risk management method of  claim 36 , wherein the mapping includes a plurality of horizontal lanes corresponding to at least one process carried out by a unit of the organization having at least one step in one of the plurality of horizontal lanes that is vertically connected to a step in a different horizontal lane that is carried out by another unit of the organization.