About ‘Public Risk’

Board of PRIMO Europe | April 2007

Introduction

During the founding of the idea of PRIMO in Strasbourg on the 1st of April 2005, the need for design principles related to the governance of public risk was extensively discussed. We, to be precise the executive committee of the European Association of Local Chief Executives UDITE, defined it as a form or way of working towards the prevention and reduction of possible hazards and risks (i.e. a measure of hazard) in our (European) cities, to build public trust on values like safety, quality of life, protection and coherence in society. In 2020, we reflect on and specify these principles.

A myriad to deal with

Based on experiences in this network we conclude that most of the public leaders and managers we meet – and if we ask them in our Public Risk Forum, round tables and thinktanks -, define risk all in their own way. It is a myriad of definitions and perceptions. We guess there are 100 different definitions of risk around, all based on unique principles, perspectives, angles, and driven towards further segmentation by a myriad of advisors, trainers, scientists (o, yes), and software developers.

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Enacting resilience

Adventure racing as a microcosm of resilience organizing

Michelle Barton and Kathleen Sutcliffe | March 2023

In this inductive study we explore the relational microdynamics of organizational resilience in adventure racing. Drawing from an organizing lens, we frame resilience as an ongoing process by which organizational actors work together to absorb strain and maintain functioning within dynamically uncertain and adverse environments.

Adventure racing exemplifies such a context: stress, technological breakdowns, and untoward environmental conditions are both frequent and unpredictable. By analyzing and triangulating interview data from 103 members of 53 adventure racing teams, we found that racers experienced ongoing adversity punctuated by discrete acute shocks.

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World Risk Poll Report 2026

The quiet hazards: How everyday risk shapes daily life

Lloyd’s Register Foundation | June 2026

Dr Ruth Boumphrey, Chief Executive: “The Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll provides a crucial platform for people around the world to voice concerns about their safety, gathering data on everyday risks and harms every two years. By amplifying the voices of those who are often marginalised or underrepresented, the Poll offers invaluable global insights to guide interventions aimed at protecting those most at risk. Developed and conducted in partnership with Gallup and shaped through dialogue with international bodies, sector experts and frontline organisations, the Poll has been built collaboratively from the outset and is intended to be used the same way.

Now in its fourth edition, the Poll has spanned major periods of global and regional change and provides a unique insight into emerging trends in people’s perceptions and experiences of risk in turbulent times. With more than 143,000 interviews conducted across 140 countries and territories in 2025, this new edition allows trends first identified in earlier editions to be tested and refined.

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Pathways to Positive Public Administration

An International Perspective

Edited by Patrick Lucas, Tina Nabatchi, Janine O’Flynn, and Paul ’t Hart | 2024

In an era of low trust in government and a pervasive negativity bias, this volume goes against the grain. It examines the foundations, practices and tools of a distinctly positive strand of public administration (PPA).

This book asserts that there is a perennial need for social, evidence-based learning on what to aspire to and what works in public administration. Responding to this need, scholars from five continents present research designed to do just that. Employing an array of frameworks and methods, they present studies of high-performing policies and programs, exploring what makes them tick and what can be learned from their design and delivery. Taken together, the 27 contributions make a powerful case for the added value of PPA as an intellectual and practical endeavour.

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JPMorganChase Letter to Shareholders

Jamie Dimon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | April 2026

“Dear Fellow Shareholders, In 2026, America is celebrating its 250th anniversary. Also, this year we are celebrating the 227th anniversary of JPMorgan Chase, which was founded in April 1799. This is the perfect time to rededicate ourselves to the values that made this great nation of ours — freedom, liberty, and opportunity — and to recognize that we all stand on our country’s shoulders.

The challenges we all face are significant. The list is long but at the top are the terrible ongoing war and violence in Ukraine, the current war in Iran and the broader hostilities in the Middle East, terrorist activity and growing geopolitical tensions, importantly with China. Our hearts go out to those whose lives are profoundly affected by these crises. We sincerely hope these global conflicts are properly resolved and that one day all of Europe and the Middle East will attain long-term stability and prosperity. Even in troubled times, we have confidence that America will do what it has always done — look to the values that have defined our singular nation and sustained our leadership of the free world…”

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Portfolio en

In 2024, the PRIMO Europe board confirmed its portfolio. The portfolio was considered complete and promising for further development. The focus is that products and services should refocus more than ever on establishing public values and helping members become better equipped to be more effective in decision-making. It is the conviction that, based on experiences over the last few years with our roundtables, think tanks, and education, the perspective on risk has shifted towards true delivery, effectiveness, success, and performance.

Our members need models, tools, and techniques that provide genuine insight into matters, challenges, and issues related to public values and deliver effective solutions. The more general path of promoting frameworks or focusing on generic culture change is less favored. For effective navigation in times of high dynamics, a greater focus on systems thinking and resilience is needed. In view of the current positioning and development of risk management within the public domain, the conclusion is drawn that the needs of organisations working in or for the public domain have broadened considerably to include offering quality, safety, security, performance, precaution, continuity and reliability.

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The Public Design Evidence Review: Public Value

UK Cabinet Office | July 2025

The Public Design Evidence Review (PDER) explores the role and value of design in the public sector. An overview of the report package can be found below.

“This document is the second of three literature reviews commissioned by the cross-government Policy Design Community and written by an interdisciplinary team of academics. It discusses the concept of public value, its origins, measurement, and application in public administration, emphasising the need for professionalisation to enhance public value delivery. The wider project was commissioned as a non-exhaustive exploration of the relationship between public design and public value. It was conducted within rapid timeframes and prioritised cross-disciplinary working.

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