Institutionalized Risk in Routine Systems (IRF) — Working Paper

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Abstract

Institutionalized risk emerges when a routine decision accumulates hidden harm because incentives, complacency, and procedure design normalize failure modes. The IRF lens makes these risks legible and actionable.

Core concept

• Normalization: risk becomes invisible because it is common.
• Complacency: volume creates false confidence.
• Design debt: procedures are not updated as contexts change.

Proposed artifact

An IRF flag used as a governance and safety signal—not as blame.

IF procedure is routine AND harm indicators persist AND feedback loop is weak
THEN apply IRF flag and require review cycle