Risks vs Issues

Risk Management Using PMI Standards

Vincent Guerard Coach - Trainer - Speaker - Advisor| Freelance Mont-Royal, Quebec, Canada

In recent discussion I realize many people have difficulties distinguishing risk from Issues.

Risk definition in PMBOK5th is "An uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on one or more project
objectives."

and Issue is define as " A point or matter in question or in dispute, or a point or matter that is not settled and is under discussion or over which there are opposing views or disagreements."

How do you get people to understand the differences? or you just don't differentiate both and put both in the risk register? Or you see issue as a risk that is materialized?

Posted: Jan 25, 2017 4:22 PM

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Anupam India

For ‘Issues’ you need to look the best possible way to resolve it

For ‘Risk’ you need a mitigation plan that eliminates the possibility or reduce the impact of risk occurring

Risk once occurred becomes an issue.

Posted: Jan 26, 2017 11:10 PM

Saket Bansal Gurgaon, Haryana, India

Jan 26, 2017 11:41 AM

Replying to Vincent Guerard

...

Hi Saket

First, thanks for sharing the link.

So an issue could be a trigger or predecessor to a risk?

Yes Issue can be Trigger , or can be an predecessor of risk . We can have issue which just get reported and solved and it never become risk, say someone raised an issue that he should also get weekly status report, you added the person in your communication plan after reflecting on his need. Issue closed . and not necessary has any risk linked to it.

Posted: Jan 28, 2017 1:35 AM

Chandrashekhar Thatte Pune, Maharashtra, India

Project Risk management is the responsibility of all the stakeholders ( for their portion of project risk) to the project-broadly categorized into Owner,Contractor and third party(Insurer) to manage their portion of risk.When any party Owner/Contractor raises an issue to the other responsible party for not managing their project risks and if it is not resolved in the right manner and within a reasonable time ,it leads to the dispute if not mitigated in real time. Issues crop up when risks are compromised/violated.

Posted: Jan 28, 2017 7:09 AM

Praveen Malik Independent Consultant| Independent Consultant New Delhi, India

Project Risk stems from uncertainty. An uncertain condition or event that can effect at least one of the project objectives is considered as risk. A negative risk that has happened is considered as issue. There is no uncertainty about the issue.

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1 reply by Chandrashekhar Thatte

Feb 04, 2017 7:30 AM

Chandrashekhar Thatte

...

I am not aware about positive /negative Project risk.Risk is a risk after all.It is the obligation of stakeholders to manage and mitigate their risks but if one party tries to pass the buck on to other party it gives rise to issues which if not resolved leads to dispute.

Posted: Feb 4, 2017 4:58 AM

Chandrashekhar Thatte Pune, Maharashtra, India

Feb 04, 2017 4:58 AM

Replying to Praveen Malik

...

Posted: Feb 4, 2017 7:30 AM

Sungjoon Park Coral Springs, Fl, United States

If identified risks occurred, they become issues to be resolved. Issues should also include any disputes and discussions between stakeholders, and all incidents to be resolved during the life cycle of the project. Issues from the identified risks can be managed based on the relevant action plans in the risk register. The other issues should be recorded and managed in the issue log.

Posted: Feb 5, 2017 7:08 AM

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Risks vs Issues

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