Let me introduce you to RIAM

Today, I would like to introduce something simple and interesting to you. It is a method to analyse conditions and situations. The details of the method is systematic and it has a pattern, a bit like grammar and syntax, it almost like a language. It is like a mathematical formula applied to any conditions and allow you to compare results and consequences.

It is an analytical tool to weigh out consequences of change impacts. It is suitable to compare options and What-If scenarios. Hence, it is useful in impact assessment.

Why do we need another new tool when there are so many out there ? Well, assessments can be expensive and it costs money just to find out something as viable or not, there is a limit to how much one can spend on the assessment stage. Assessment is not accurate when there is lack of data (which is related to costing). Most assessment like our seminar evaluation has 3 or 5 points system, majority will just pick the middle point. The assessment score is likely to be :-

3 Range Score :-
1. Good
2. Average
3. Bad

or

5 Range Score :-
1. Excellent
2. Good
3. Average
4. Bad
5. Very Bad

Either way, it still does not give the full picture of the situations.

This method addresses these two issues on costing and score. It is relatively cheap, possible to assess with little data (improve as you have data), results are categorised in range value to answer questions like

1) How large is the impact area ?
2) How significant is the impact ?
3) Is the impact permanent ?
4) Is the impact reversible ?
5) Is it cumulative / synergistic impact ?

These questions are not yes or no answers. You have to answer them one by one. Hence, it is a focused impact analysis, one at a time, not influenced by the other scores. Each component of impact is given its own space to be analysed. It is a discipline to learn not to generalise components into similar issues and mark them the same. On top of these, as you do the assessment, you are to record down the reasoning, justifications and facts that you know about that scenario. This allows the marking to be reviewed or revisited by another person or in future when more data is available.

This method is called RIAM, short for Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix. This method begins with Scoping exercise. Scoping is the process we identify components, options that impact the case we are assessing. We identify four categories of components and options :-

Physical Chemical PC
Biological Ecological BE
Social Culture SC
Economic Operations EO

We discipline the mind to go through each category and ask questions that are relevant to this category. Once, they are listed down, it will form the overall matrix of this assessment. This method is good to evaluate and assess the following conditions :-

1) What-If Scenario - Before and After, With policy and Without Policy
2) Options - which is better

Once the marking is completed and justification and reasoning recorded, it is possible to plot a graph depicting what is happening in PC, BE, SC and EO environments. The score range has negative values and that corresponds to negative impacts.

Note :- 551 words