3. Risk - An uncertain event or condition that, if
it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on
a project’s objectives
Source: PMBOK
Liora Shapiro PMP 052-6194244
4. Risk Management - identify potential
problems before they occur, so that risk-
handling activities may be planned and
invoked as needed … to mitigate adverse
impacts on achieving objectives
Source: CMMI
Liora Shapiro PMP 052-6194244
5. While a PostMortem helps us learn why a patient
has died, a PreMortem explores why a project
might die in the future
The PreMortem technique helps anticipate a
plan's weaknesses
Liora Shapiro PMP 052-6194244
6. Preparation
Team members should already be familiar with the
plan, or else have the plan described to them so
they can understand what is supposed to be
happening.
Team members take out sheets of paper and get
relaxed in their chairs.
Liora Shapiro PMP 052-6194244
7. Imagine a fiasco
Imagine the project has totally
failed.
Then ask, “What could have
caused this?”
Liora Shapiro PMP 052-6194244
8. Generate reasons for failure
Spend the next three minutes writing
down all the reasons they think the
project failed.
Each person has a different set of
experiences, a different set of scars, and
a different mental model.
You get what the collective knowledge in
the room can produce.
Liora Shapiro PMP 052-6194244
9. Consolidate the lists
Ask each person to state one item from
the list.
Each item is recorded on a whiteboard.
This process continues until every
member of the group has revealed every
item on their list.
Liora Shapiro PMP 052-6194244
10. Revisit the plan
The team can address the two or three items of
greatest concern, and then schedule another
meeting to discuss ideas for avoiding or minimizing
other problems
Liora Shapiro PMP 052-6194244
11. Periodically review the list
Monitor preventive plan
re-sensitise the team to the
problems that may be emerging
Liora Shapiro PMP 052-6194244
12. Use your imagination to identify risks
Preparation
Imagine a fiasco
Generate reasons for failure
Consolidate the lists
Revisit the plan
Periodically review the list
Liora Shapiro PMP 052-6194244
