Radical Project Management

Shooting the Messenger

Often, the process of risk management is perceived as negative and, in fact, it does focus on what can go wrong rather than what can go right. However, it is important for you and your project sponsor to realize that proactive reduction of risk before the project starts is more effective and less expensive than reactive reduction of risk impact during the project.

We have found that in many companies, there is a tendency to see the process of risk assessment, risk memorandums, and so on as “wimpy” and “butt-covering.” Although we find this attitude unbelievable and unprofessional, in the macho, go for it, cracking-an-all-nighter culture of many companies, we can certainly see why such a view exists.

In our workshops, we ...