UnionBank Holds Near Miss Summit, Emphasizing HRO Principles in Action
by: Martina Lucero
Last January 17, 2023, over 480 UnionBankers online and 40 onsite participants attended the Near Miss Summit at the 47th floor of UnionBank Plaza. The summit, also livestreamed via Microsoft Teams, brought together UnionBank leaders and employees to discuss the importance of addressing near misses and transforming them into positive outcomes.
Hosted by Jam Salvador, Talent Capability Manager, and Operational Risk Management Lead MT, Manuel Padullon, the summit delved into the significance of early intervention in addressing near misses, aligning with the principles of a High Reliability Organization (HRO). Chief Risk Officer Erwin Wiriadi emphasized the importance of tackling issues head-on, stating, “Escalate. It will release you from the burden of the issues. If you escalate late, the issue will become yours. If you do not escalate, you own the problem.”
Ms. Salvador echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that escalation is a proactive step to prevent potential problems.
The event also showcased real-life instances where UnionBank employees, hailed as “Near Miss Heroes”, demonstrated HRO (High Reliability Organization) principles in action, turning potential disasters into success stories.
In one case presented by the Client Engagement Solutions Group, the HRO Principle of “Reluctance to Simplify” was showcased when an officer detected a suspicious pattern in an email request, leading to the prevention of fraudulent transfers. Another example from DigiBCM exemplified the HRO Principle of “Preoccupation with Failure”, where the unit’s verifiers detected 340 digital account opening attempts using suspicious email addresses, averting unnecessary risks.
Several other Near Miss Heroes from various units also shared their experiences, detailing the cleanup, detection, escalation, and positive results achieved by aligning with different HRO principles.
Afterwards, the summit featured a Question-and-Answer session, providing both onsite and online attendees with the opportunity to seek clarification and gain further insights.
To wrap up the session, Ms. Ruth Calamba, Head of Operational Risk Management, stressed the importance of learning not just from mistakes but also from near misses.
She urged participants to ensure the correctness of their actions, stating, “Make sure that what you’re doing is right. Don’t rely on the next person downstream. Take accountability for your process. Take accountability for that data.” She emphasized that this approach is crucial for maintaining accuracy and efficiency in operations.
CHRO Michelle Rubio also gave a closing speech, stating, “Beyond the wealth of knowledge shared here, one underlying theme has emerged throughout the course of this conference, and it is the power of proactive risk management from all of us.”
She highlighted that near misses serve as wake-up calls to the potential consequences of complacency. She noted that through this summit, the organization effectively fosters a culture of improvement and perfection within UnionBank’s operations.
As the Near Miss Summit concludes its third year, it remains a crucial platform for UnionBankers to reflect on close calls, strengthening their commitment to proactive risk management and continuous improvement. It also helps in fostering a culture that embraces the HRO framework and empowers UnionBankers to navigate uncertainties, learn from near misses, and fortify the organization’s resilience against potential risks.
