What are Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) used for?

Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) are fundamental tools used in risk management to assess levels of risk within an organization. By monitoring specific metrics that signal potential risks, organizations can proactively identify and manage threats before they escalate into significant issues. KRIs provide insights into areas such as operational risk, compliance risk, and financial risk, enabling management to take informed actions based on an organization's risk profile. They allow decision-makers to set thresholds for acceptable levels of risk and to deploy resources accordingly to mitigate impending risks.

Each of the other options focuses on different aspects of business operations, such as productivity, marketing effectiveness, and customer service performance, which do not directly relate to the core purpose of KRIs. Therefore, the emphasis on assessing risk positions C as the accurate response in the context of understanding KRIs within risk management frameworks.