Managing Impediments to Progress

Glen is Vice President Program Planning and Controls, Niwot Ridge LLC.

  Risk Management   Work Breakdown Structures (WBS)   ProjectsAtWork  

Many risk management guides describe a mitigation strategy that allocates funding and schedule margin for when a risk “comes true.” A better approach is to “buy down” the risk before it turns into an issue. Here is an example based on the U.S. Department of Defense’s approach.

The introduction to this series — “5 Questions PMs Must Ask” — outlined five immutable principles that project leaders and teams must address in order to succeed. This installment explores the fourth question, What Impediments Will We Encounter Along the Way?

Discovering and handling risks is a primary role for project and program leaders and technical staff. To be successful, they must develop sufficient skills and experience “managing” identified risks. They must also bring a particular mindset to the effort. A favorite quote along these lines comes from Earnest Gann’s Fate is the Hunter:

“Project managers should be continuously wary. This sustained attitude only comes from experience.”

The first step in managing risks starts with the recognition that there is a step-by-step process for each risk-handling process. There are many approaches to risk, but the U.S. Department of Defense’s Risk Management Guide covers all aspects of risk management and has a well-established basis of success. Other frameworks leave out process …

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