Where do you list your project risks? The more traditional project management approach tells us to use a risk register, and that’s certainly what happens in a lot of projects. … Continue reading The distorted lens of risk registers
Category: Risk and uncertainty
More effective risk workshops
A common part of the traditional risk management process is to run a risk workshop. This typically involves getting a group of stakeholders together at the start of a project, … Continue reading More effective risk workshops
Handling so-called “risks” with our existing processes
Previously I wrote that a great way to manage risk is to design it out of the system. But what if our system—our project—is already set up and running? The … Continue reading Handling so-called “risks” with our existing processes
Risk appetites (plural)
What kind of risk appetite does your organisation have? Does it have different risk appetites for different circumstances? And is that even useful? Matthew Leitch contends that the term “risk … Continue reading Risk appetites (plural)
A colourful way to see risk variability
I’ve said before that risk is variable. But traditional project management pretends that “risks” are individual things—what I sometimes call “point risks”. So if you’re working in that environment, here’s … Continue reading A colourful way to see risk variability
Acquisitions: When the player becomes the pawn
When a company with a good product gets acquired it can upset the decision-making of potential customers. This issue arose a little while ago when Ansible was bought by Red … Continue reading Acquisitions: When the player becomes the pawn
Frequent delivery generates opportunities
Frequent delivery throughout a project doesn’t only allow you to test your product and manage the uncertainty of a big bang launch. It also opens up the possibility of unexpected … Continue reading Frequent delivery generates opportunities
Instead of risks, discuss uncertainty
When we shift from talking about so-called “risks” to talking about uncertainty our conversations become more realistic. It can also offer us more control of something that might otherwise seem … Continue reading Instead of risks, discuss uncertainty
Designing risk out of the system
I’ve written previously about looking at so-called risks more constructively, but how might we deal those things? It’s one thing to look at a problem from a different angle; it’s … Continue reading Designing risk out of the system
Is your risk register helpful?
Often when I talk about unhelpful entries in risk registers there is some disbelief from the people I’m talking to. I present some examples, and people’s first reaction is “but … Continue reading Is your risk register helpful?
