Recent and new practices provide relevant guidelines for social security managers to integrate the risk management approach. Multiple effective ways to manage change initiatives and associated risks exist and allow for the achievement of high performance management.

Consequently, the ISSA Technical Commission on Administration, Organization and Methods through the study on Change management and risk management (2005-2006) and the Vienna International Conference on Leadership and Innovation (2007) has focused its current triennium activities on major change initiatives associated with risk management which organizations undertake to achieve dramatic improvements in results.

Social security organizations around the world face constant change driven by shifting political administrations, social and demographic trends and technological developments; nonetheless, they must chart an effective course forward. When engaged in the change process managers must on one hand maintain their management capacities in carrying out their daily tasks and on the other hand they must face many unquantifiable risks.

Managing risks means identifying and assessing them and taking appropriate action to reduce or control them. Social security organizations must adopt a risk management approach in order to be efficient and effective organizations.