There may be external circumstances or events that cannot occur for the project to be successful. If you believe such an event is likely to happen, then it would be a risk. Identifying something as a risk increases its visibility, and allows a proactive risk management plan to be put into place.

If an event is within control of the project team, such as having testing complete by a certain date, then it is not a risk. If an event has 100 percent chance of occurring, then it is not a risk, since there is no “likelihood” or risk involved (it is just a fact).

Examples of risks might be a”Reorganisation may result in key people being reassigned,” or “The new hardware may not be able handle the expected sales volume.”

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PRINCE2