We operate a group-wide quality management system which we refer to as the Boskalis Way of Working (WoW). In designing this system, we observed the principles and guidelines of the ISO 31000 standard for risk management. The overriding objective of our WoW-system is to give our staff the best possible support in achieving operational excellence throughout the project lifecycle, with a clear focus on safe and sustainable solutions as well as a consistent client approach. Operational excellence in this context means achieving compliance with the internal and external control requirements imposed on our primary project process whilst minimizing failure costs.
We monitor compliance and identify opportunities to further improve our performance by conducting regular internal audits, inspections, emergency drills, and management reviews. For all business units, external certification bodies have asserted that the implementation of WoW complies with the most recent applicable international (ISO) quality, safety and environmental standards. During the year under review we have continued our efforts to further improve and harmonize (the documentation of) this system.
Our tolerance or appetite for risks is documented in the Group’s guidelines, policies, procedures and instructions. Examples include the General Code of Business Conduct and the Supplier Code of Conduct, safety and quality policies and procedures, vendor selection criteria, project risk classification system, contracting guidelines, authorization limits, treasury policies, management planning and control systems, financial control framework, crisis management plans, information security and access management policies.
Below sets out an overview of what we currently consider to be the most important strategic, operational, compliance, financial (reporting) and other risks we face in pursuing our business objectives. This overview is not exhaustive and risks have not been ranked in order of importance. There may be other risks which we currently do not consider to be significant but which at a later stage may manifest themselves as such. Where possible, we have indicated the specific measures in place to help mitigate these risks.