Objective: Showing the shortcomings of operational risk management in universities that inhibit the achievement of strategic objectives and organizational goals is the central objective of this research.
Method: To this end, a diagnosis of the current state of the associated variables was carried out in accounting and administration faculties in Mexico, Ecuador and Cuba.
Results and Discussion: Among the main findings, it is highlighted that the most affected dimension is the Strategic orientation design of the organization for risk management, although in general, none of the dimensions evaluated presents a favorable behavior, which indicates the need to apply risk management tools with a strategic and integrated approach and a greater follow-up of prevention plans to achieve a better correspondence between planning and control.
Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by providing a systematization of knowledge available in scientific literature on risk management in higher education institutions to subsequently verify the behavior of these variables in higher education institutions that operate in contexts as diverse and different as they belong to countries like Mexico, Ecuador and Cuba that respond to different socio-economic environments.