An encounter with an injured bird last weekend gave me a glimpse into the ultimate risk managementthe fight for survival.

While the cause of the Costa Concordia accident is still under investigation, insurance and reinsurance markets are bracing for loss claims that could ultimately reach $1 billion, according to Moodys Investors Service.

Even though enterprise risk management is seen as a growing need for organizations globally, companies are still struggling to implement the practice enterprise-wide, according to an industry study.

While the recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on risk-retention groups (RRGs) recommends that Congress pass legislation clarifying certain provisions of the Liability Risk Retention Act (LRRA), it doesnt go far enough, according to one industry expert.

An increasing emphasis on enterprise-risk management in the corporate world is reflected in the higher-education sector, with more courses and research exploring the concept at universities with established RM programs.

Vermont increased its number of captive-insurance companies in 2011 from the two previous years as the state continues to see growth in that industry, capturing six captives that were domiciled elsewhere.

The reinsurance industry this past year weathered near-record catastrophe losses, catastrophe-model changes and the pressures of a challenging macroeconomic environmentbut unlike 2005, reinsurers were prepared in 2011, according to a report by Guy Carpenter.

An increasing emphasis on enterprise-risk management in the corporate world is reflected in the higher-education sector, with more courses and research exploring the concept at universities with established RM programs.