a) How is Risk and Risk Management viewed in the modern market environment? Does it significantly influence the decisions that majors make?

a) Risk and Risk Management are crucial aspects in the modern market environment. They are viewed as essential tools for making informed decisions and ensuring the sustainability of businesses.

In the volatile market environment, risks can arise from various sources such as financial uncertainty, strategic management decisions, legal liabilities, accidents, and natural disasters. Therefore, identifying, assessing, and prioritizing these risks are vital for the smooth functioning of any organization.

Risk Management, on the other hand, involves coordinated activities to direct and control an organization with regard to risk. It includes risk assessment, risk mitigation strategies, and risk monitoring. The goal of risk management is not to eliminate risk, but to manage it in a way that aligns with the organization's business goals and risk appetite.

As for the influence on the decisions that majors make, it is significant. Risk and Risk Management play a key role in strategic planning, decision making, and day-to-day operations. They help in identifying potential threats and opportunities, thus enabling majors to make decisions that balance risk and reward.

For instance, before launching a new product or entering a new market, majors would conduct a thorough risk assessment to understand the potential risks involved and devise strategies to mitigate them. Similarly, in financial decision making, majors would consider the risk-return trade-off to make decisions that maximize shareholder value while minimizing risk.

In conclusion, Risk and Risk Management are integral to the modern market environment and significantly influence the decisions that majors make.