A new survey of risk managers released at the RIMS Conference by the Liberty Mutual Group highlighted three of the largest issues facing onshore risk management programmes during the next two years.

They include: Information technology issues including Year 2000 compliance; Consolidating operations caused my mergers and acquisitions, including managing domestic and international growth; Restructuring risk management programmes, including looking into new coverages and alternative risk management funding.

Vice President Commercial Marketing of the Liberty Mutual Group, John F. Ryan, said: "This is the third year that Liberty Mutual has conducted a survey of risk managers to learn what are the biggest issues they face.'' The three themes, he said, have consistently appeared in the past.

The percentage of risk managers who have used the Internet for their job remain roughly at 80 percent of the respondents, but most spend less than four hours online.

They use it primarily as an information source, particularly to gather information on products and services. They also use it to gather regulatory information, insurance ratings and benchmark information.

One third use the Internet for data exchange with their insurer. Twenty-three percent use the Internet for a variety of purposes including obtaining news, weather an research information; networking with other risk managers; and, communicating with their brokers.

Risk managers' forecast more global expansion of their own firms and see challenges that will include insuring adequate and consistent coverages in other countries where there firms will operate.

In directing their global risk programme they foresee other problems including: communication to their new international offices; ensuring global operations are aligned with the firm's strategic goals; instituting global loss control programmes; and, dealing with local laws and regulations.

BUSINESS BUC