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PMI-RMP Risk Management
Study sets for RMP certification
217
Other
Undergraduate 3
09/17/2014

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Cards

Term
Inputs to risk management
Definition
Things that must be done or information that must be collected beforeyou can adequately complete risk management
Term
Project management Process
Definition

Initiating, Planning, executing, monitoring and controling, closing

 

Term
Project background information
Definition
Information from before the project was approved, articles written about similar projects, and other such information.
Term
What went right, wrong, or would have been done differently by past projects teams if they could execute their projects again
Definition
Lessons Learned
Term
High-level directive from the sponsor outlining the overall objectives of the project; it authorizes the existence of a project
Definition
Project Charter
Term
A document that describes the approved product and project requirements
Definition
Project scope statement
Term
A diagram that shows the decomposition of the project into smaller, more manageable pieces
Definition
Work breakdown structure
Term
A dependency-sequenced organization of the projec's activities
Definition
Network Diagram
Term
Anticipated time or cost of project activities
Definition
Estimates for time and cost
Term
A formal plan for when and how resources will be involved in the project, and what roles they will perform
Definition
Human Resource Plan
Term
A formal plan documenting how and in what form communications will be handled on a project
Definition
Communications management plan
Term
A formal or informal plan that describes what part(s) of the project will be purchased under contract or purchase order; it includes a plan for managing the sellers
Definition
Procurement management plan
Term
Information about individuals and organizations who are actively involved in the project or who may affect or be affected by the project
Definition
Stakeholder register
Term
The individual or group who authorizes the project and provides the financial resources
Definition
Sponsor
Term
Those who will be excuting the project management plan
Definition
Project team
Term
The individual or organization who will use the product of the project
Definition
Customer
Term
Stakeholders' needs or intents that may be unstated, but are motivators or non-motivators for working on the project
Definition
Expectations
Term
Company policies, procedures, templates, and historical information
Definition
Organizational process assets
Term
Anything that limits the team's options, e.g., scope, time, cost, quality, risk, resources, and customer satisfaction
Definition
Project constraints
Term
Things that are accepted as true, but may not be true
Definition
Assumptions
Term
Areas in which the company and key stakeholders are willing to accept risk
Definition
Risk tolerance areas
Term
Unwilling to accept risk
Definition
Risk Averse
Term
Amounts of risk the company and key stakeholders are willing to accept
Definition
Risk Thresholds
Term
What is the objectives of the "Plan Risk Management process
Definition
  • Create a plan for handling risk management for the project
  • Adapt any policies and prcedures for risk to the needs of the project
  • Tailor risk management activities to the needs of the project to make sure the level, type, and visibility of the activities commensurate with the project
Term
What are the inputs to the Plan Risk Management process?
Definition
  • Project scope statement
  • Schedule, cost, and communications plan
  • Company historical records, policies, and risk templates for risk management
Term
The Risk Management Plan may include:
Definition
  • Methodology - how you will perform risk management
  • Roles and Responsibilities - Who will do what
  • Budget - realize the cost of doing risk management
  • Timing - When to do risk management
  • Risk Categories 
  • Definitions of probability and impact - standardize
  • Stakeholder Tolerances - should not be implied
  • Reporting Formats - any reports related to risks
  • Tracking - how the risk process will be audited
Term
Risk rating
Definition
A risk rating is a number between 1 and 10 chosen to evaluate the probability or impact of a risk
Term
Risk score for each risk
Definition
To calculate the risk score, you multiply probability times impact. This gives you a numerical value for each risk. That value is then compared to other risks in the project to determine the risk ranking for each risk within the project.
Term
Risk score for the project
Definition
To obtain the project risk score, you add up the risk scores for each risk in the project
Term
Risk ranking within the project
Definition
To rank risks, you compare the risk scores for all the risks. The risk wiht the highest risk score becomes the highest ranking risk, the next hightest becomes second, etc.
Term
Risk ranking compared to other projects
Definition
The total risk score for each project can be compared to the risk score of other projects to rank projects by risk. Sometimes the total risk score is used, and sometimes the total risk score is divided by the number of risks and the number is compared to other projects
Term
What is the output of the Plan Risk Management process
Definition
Risk Management Plan
Term
What is the key concept of Plan Risk Management
Definition
The objective of this step or the risk management process is to decide how to approach risk management on the project. The level, type, and visibility of what is done must be commensurate with the complexity and size of the project, experience of the project team, preceived amount of project risk, and importance of the project to the organization.
Term
Determining how risk management will be done on the project, who will be involved, and procedures to be followed
Definition
Plan Risk Management Process
Term
A department that supports project management within an organization
Definition
Project Management Office (PMO)
Term
A department that supplies policies and assistance with project risk management efforts
Definition
Risk management department
Term
A plan for how risk management will be done on a project; who should be involved, when risk management activitites should be done, and how frequently they should be done.
Definition
Risk Management Plan
Term
Those helping manage the risk management process
Definition
Risk Team
Term
How risk will be handled on the project and what data and tools will be used
Definition
Methodology
Term
Who will do what on the project
Definition
Roles and Responsibilities
Term
Amount of resources allocated to be spent on the project
Definition
Budget
Term
When/how often risk management activities will be performed throughout the project
Definition
Timing
Term
A standardized interpretation of the numbering system used to evaluate risks
Definition
Definitions of probability and impact
Term
How the results of risk management will be documented and communicated
Definition
Reporting formats
Term
How records of risks will be documented for the benefit of the current project and future projects
Definition
Tracking
Term
What is the objective of the Identify Risks process
Definition
  • Identify and record a long list of threats and opportunities for the project and by work packages; for many projects, the word "long" means hundreds of risks
  • Make sure all risks are in the cause-risk-effect format
  • Understand Risk
Term
What are the inputs to the Identify Risks process
Definition
  • Project Charter
  • Risk management plan
  • Outputs from proejct planning - such as the work breakdown structure, estimates and management plans
  • List of common risk categories
  • Historical records and project documents
  • Stakeholder register
Term
When a cause has an probability of greater than 80% how should you handle it.
Definition
Anyting with a probability of greater than 80% is a certainty (fact) and should not be considered a risk but be handled within the project scope or project plan
Term
What method should you use to differentiate risks from facts and to adequately define risks?
Definition
Cause-Risk-Effect
Term

 

What are the benefits of using forms to identify risks?

Definition
  • They are fast
  • They are commonly used for other work activities, so many people feel comfortable with them.
  • They help accumulate the input of many people in a relatively short time period.
  • They are a convent way to gain the contribution of those who do not want to spend much time on the project. 
Term
What are the disadvantages of using forms
Definition
  • They do not allow fror group thought or opinion
  • They do not encourage people to think "outside the box". People will just fill out the form.
  • They do not allow discussion. Some people are more verbal and require a verbal method to come up with the best list of risks.
  • They do not allow for unlimited ideas. People will come up with a few risks and stop. 
  • They are not always taken seriously. People will not view risk identification as seriously as they would if other methods are used.
  • They limit responses
Term
List the methods to identifying Risks
Definition
  • Use a prompt list
  • Review the list of risks provided in this book
  • Review your own company's historical records and other documentation
  • Brainstorming
  • Conduct a "pre-mortem"
  • Affinity diagrams
  • Expert interviews
  • Nominal group technique
  • Delphi technique
  • Cause and effect diagram 
  • Failure modes and effects analysis
  • Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis
Term
What is a Prompt List
Definition
A prompt list is a generic list of risk categories. This can be used as a starting point to customize a list of risk categories most relevant to projects within your organization.
Term
In this type of structure you may have many categories and sub-categories
Definition
Risk Breakdown Structure
Term
What should the project manager look at from previous projects to assist in identifying risk on the current project
Definition

Historical Records (Data)

  • List of Risk categories
  • Lists of risks
  • Probability and impact of risks
  • Risk response plans
  • Lessons Learned
Term
What is Brianstorming
Definition

Brainstorming is a meeting to come up with ideas or solve problems.

The output of Brainstorming are the group's thoughts, not individuals' throughts.

Brainstorming is not necessarily the best choice, nor should it be the only choice for identifying risks.

Term
What is it called when an assembled group is asked to imagine that the project is completed or has been terminated. It has failed to meet one or more of its objectives. The group is then ask to describe why the project failed.
Definition
"Pre-Mortem"
Term
In this technique, the ideas generated from any other risk gathering techniques are sorted into groups by similarities. Each group of risk is then given a title. This sorting makes it easier to see additional risks that have not been identified.
Definition
Affinity Diagrams
Term

In this type of risk identification method the project manager does interviews in the form of meetings,

e-mails, telephone calls, and letters. They are not informal discussions. They need to be planned, organized, and controlled during delivery in order to be most effective.

Definition
Expert Interviews
Term
This technique is used when you you need a technique to gain a group's opinion (groupthink), rather than individual opinions.
Definition
Nominal Group Technique
Term
What are the results of the Nominal group technique?
Definition
Group's buy-in to the total group opinion on specific risks of the project.
Term
What technique should be used to obtain an consensus of expert opinion on what work should be performed, what risks exist in the project, or the quantitative analysis of identified risks
Definition
Delphi Technique
Term
What is the cause and effect diagram used for?
Definition
Cause and effect diagrams can be used to evaluate the causes of any events, such as quality problems or risks.
Term
What is the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) used for?
Definition
Also known as fault tree analysis, is a technique that can be used to assess the potential reliability of products.
Term
RPN
Definition
Risk Priority Number - used in the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis is found by multiplying the severity times the occurrence rating time the detection rating
Term
SWOT
Definition
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats - This analysis looks at the project to identify its strengths and weaknesses and thereby identify risks (opportunities and threats)
Term
What is the Risk Register used for?
Definition
The risk register is the place where most of the risk information is kept.
Term
How often is the Risk Register updated?
Definition
The information is added to this document throughout the project. Think of it as one document for the whole risk management process that will be constantly updated with information as the Identify Risk process and later risk management processes are completed.
Term
Early warning signs that a risk has occurred or is about to occur.
Definition
Triggers
Term
A person whom the project manager assigns to watch for triggers, and manage the risk response if the risk occurs
Definition
Risk Owner - a stakeholder who could also be a project team member who has particular knowledge about a risk, or expertise in handling the risk (or the activity to which the risk relates)
Term
What are the outputs for the Identify Risks Process
Definition
The output of the Identify Risks process is the Risk Register
Term
As a result of (X), (Y) may occur, which would/could/may lead to (Z)
Definition
Cause-Risk-Effect format
Term
A tool to identify potential failure modes, determine their effects, and identify actions to mitigate the failures
Definition
FMEA - Failure Modes and Effects Analysis
Term
A process of seeking consensus of expert opinion
Definition
Delphi Technique
Term
Common areas or sources of risk on similar projects
Definition
Risk Categories
Term
Theoretical "evaluation" of a project before it has actually been done
Definition
"Pre-Mortem"
Term
A method to identify additional risks and risk categories on a project
Definition
Affinity diagram
Term
A process for obtaining opinions or other input on the project from experts
Definition
Expert interview
Term
A generic list of risk categories
Definition
Prompt list
Term
A process of collecting and ranking risks contributed by a select group of participants
Definition
Nominal group technique
Term
A meeting to come up with ideas or solve problems
Definition
Brainstorming
Term
A tool to evaluate the causes of risks
Definition
Cause and effect diagram
Term
Determining specific risks by project and by activity
Definition
Identify Risk process
Term
List of identified risks (threats and opportunities) for the project and other information added throughout the risk management process
Definition
Risk Register
Term
Root Cause
Definition
Underlying Risk
Term
What is the overall objective of the Perform Qualitative and Quantitative Risk Analysis process?
Definition
To determine which risks warrant response.
Term
What are the specific objectives of Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis
Definition
* Subjectively evaluate the probability and impact of each risk
* Create a shorter list of risks by determining the top or critical risks that you will quantify further and/or address in the Plan Risk Responses process
* Make a go/no-go decision (Having evaluated all the risks, do we still want to do this project?)
Term
What are the inputs to Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis
Definition
* Risk Management Plan
* Risk register (list of potential risk)
* Project scope statement
* Project type and an understanding of the work needed to complete the project
* Data about risks to be used during this step to measure their precision
* Assumptions to test
* Scales for probability and impact (if they are standardized for your department or company)
* Historical records: How were similar risks qualified in the past?
Term
Assumptions Testing (Qualitative Risk Analysis)
Definition
A project manager should look at the stability of each assumption (how realistic or valid is it?) and the consequences if the assumption is false.
In assumptions testing, the stability and consequences are rated from 1 to 10. A stability rating of 5 to 10 means the assumption is valid. A consequences rating of 5 to 10 means the assumption could have a large impact on the project.
Term
Data Quality Assessment (Qualitative Risk Analysis)
Definition
Before we start qualitative risk analysis, we need to ask ourselves, "How well understood is the risk?" This should include an analysis of the following to rate the precisions of each risk:
* Extent of the understanding of the risk
* Amount of data available about the risk
* Reliability and integrity of the data
Term
Define Probability & Impact (Qualitative Risk Analysis)
Definition
* Probability is the likelihood that a risk will occur.
* Impact is the effect the risk will have on the project if it occurs.
Probability and impact will be estimated subjectively, with the work "impact" encompassing all possible impacts.
Term
Reducing Bias
Definition
It is important that all those who are evaluating the risk use a standard interpretation for their assessment of probability and impact, in order to achieve consistent evaluation of risk across multiple projects.
Having a description for 1 to 10 in the matrix will help eliminate some biases.
Term
Warning: High, Medium, and Low Scales
Definition
Fore even 30 risks, a high, medium, low range does not provide enough spread between each risk to sort the risks. A broader range will decrease the ambiguity that can arise from differing interpretations of the terms, "high", "medium", and "low".
Term
Which Risk should move forward in the Qualitative Risk Analysis process?
Definition
Move risks forward depending on their ranking among all the risks.
Term
How do you determine risks ranking scores
Definition
multiply Probability times Impact for each risks
Term
What is the project Risk Threshold
Definition
A project risk threshold is the total amount of risk acceptable on the project and usually takes the form of a maximum project risk score.
e.g., a risk score of no more than 50 on a scale of 1 to 80; a probability of no more than 5 times an impact of no more than 10.
Term
How do you find a Project Risk Score
Definition
To find a project's risk score, add the risk score for the individual risks on the project (risk score = probability times impact) and then divide that sum by the number of risks.
Term
What is the purpose of the Project Risk Score
Definition
The project risk score is the standard by which the risk efforts are measured. There is a risk score for the project before risk response planning and another, lower score after risk response planning. The difference in scores shows the success of the risk response planning effort.
Term
Determining Risk Ranking Between Projects
Definition
The project that has the highest risk ranking as compared to other projects should have the best project manager assigned.
The risk ranking of a project is based on its risk score, as compared to the risk scores of other projects.
Term
What do you do with the non-top risks?
Definition
Non-top risks are documented and revisited later in the Monitor and Control Risks process to confirm the risk ratings and risk scores.
Term
When should you proceed to the Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis process?
Definition
If:
You believe that you have identified "all" the project risk
It is worth the time and money on your project
You have a very high-priority or visible project
There is very little tolerance for cost or schedule overruns
Term
When should you proceed from the Qualitative Risk Analysis directly to the Plan Risk Responses, skipping the Quantitative Risk Analysis process?
Definition
You have a small budget or short length project
You are new to risk management and have not perfected quantitative risk analysis
Term
What is the output of the Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis process?
Definition
Updates to the risk register
Term
Instances where on activity, person, event, etc., is causing more than one risk
Definition
Common causes of risk
Term
Method of determining probability and impact of identified risks
Definition
Probability and impact scales
Term
A chart showing activity information; in risk management it is modified to include the risk score and risk owner
Definition
Bar Chart
Term
"Is the project to risky to continue compared to the potential benefits?"
Definition
Go/no-go decision
Term
Looking at the stability (validity) of each assumption and the consequences if each assumption is false
Definition
Assumption testing
Term
Risks that will be addressed in the Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis or Plan Risk Responses processes
Definition
List of Risk to move forward
Term
Subjectively analyzing the risks obtained in the Identify Risks process and deciding which risks warrant a response; creating a "short list" of risks
Definition
Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis process
Term
Prioritization of risks based on risk scores
Definition
Risk Ranking
Term
A numerical value of a risk calculated by multiplying probability times impact
Definition
Risk Score
Term
Determining "How well understood is the risk?"
Definition
Data Quality assessment
Term
As illustrated on a network diagram, many activities leading into a central activity
Definition
Path Convergence
Term
Bias due to a difference in preception
Definition
Cognitive bias
Term
Intentionally biasing results in one direction or another
Definition
Motivational Bias
Term
What is Quantitative Risk Analysis
Definition
Quantitative risk analysis is an attempt to determine how much risk the project has, and where, so that you can spend your limited time and effort in the areas of greatest risk, to decrease the risk on the project.
Term
If you are calculating cost or time (or customer satisfaction, quality, or other) impact and percentage for probability what type of analysis are you performing
Definition
Quantitative Analysis
Term
During the Quantitative Risk Analysis what are some of the best ways to come up with probabilities and impacts?
Definition
Guess at percentage of probability, or a dollar or time impact using subjective judgment.
Calculate the actual cost and/or time impact (Note that there is not such thing as an exact probability)
Use historical records (What were the time, cost and probability single value estimates or distributions on other projects?)
Use the Delphi technique
Conduct interviews
Term
In the Quantitative Risk Analysis the concept of expected monetary value is used to determine what?
Definition
The overall probable circumstance will be as a result of the events.
Term
Expected monetary value is the probability weighted average of all possible outcomes and is calculated as?
Definition
EMV = P x I
Expected Monetary Value = Probability (P) x Impact (I)
Term
How do you come up with the total expected monetary values of the risks for the project?
Definition
Since opportunities are benefits or savings, they are subtracted from the expected monetary value of the threats to come up with the total expected monetary value of the risks.
Term
Do not forget to identify and consider high-risk work packages and activities as well.
Definition
Each activity or work package can have it's own calculation to determine if it is moved forward into the Plan Risk Management phase
Term
What should be done with the Non-Top Risks that are not moved on to the Plan Risk Management phase?
Definition
Document the risks that do not move forward in the risk process so that these risks can be revisited later during risk reviews.
Term

 

You are planning the manufacture of a new product. Your project estimate results in a projcet cost of US $600,000. In addition, your analysis has come up with the following:

A. A 5% probability of a delay in receiving parts with a cost to the project of $75,000

B. A 55% probability that parts will be $60,000 cheaper than expected

C. A 75% probability that two parts will not fit together when installed, resulting in and extra $100,000 cost

D. A 5% probability that the manufacture may be simpler than expected, resulting in a $25,000 savings 

E A 15% probability of a design defect causing $8,000 of rework

 

What is the expected monetary value of the cost of these threats and opportunitites. 

Definition

Risk           Calculatioin                 Expected Monetarty                                                          Value fo the Cost 

 

A                0.05 times $75,0000      $3750

B                0.55 times $60,0000     ($33,000)

C                0.75 times $100,000      $75,000

D                0.05 times $25,000       ($1,250)

E                0.15 times $8,000          $1,200

 

Total                                               $45,700

Term
What do probabilistic methods determine?
Definition
Instead of a fixed, certain estimate, probabilistic methods determine distributions, or ranges, to give a comprehensive picture of the possible uncertainties.
Term
When using the triangular distribution method what range should you use to create the graph?
Definition
Ask for the pessimistic, optimistic, and most likely estimates of the duration. The wider the range (or its standard deviation), the more uncertainty exists in the estimate.
Term
When would the Monte Carlo simulation be used?
Definition
The Monte Carlo simulation is used when there are continuous probability distribution iterations performed to calculate the possible impact on project objectives. NOTE: The Monte Carlo does not help you identify specific risks for which responses can be planned, or that can be eliminated. It does, however, translate uncertainties into impacts to the total project.
Term
What are some of the outputs of the Monte Carlo simulations?
Definition
* The probability of completing the project on any specific day, or for any specific amount of cost.
* The probability of any activity actually being on the critical path.
Term
What are Decision Tree models and how are the used
Definition
Decision trees are models of real situations and are used to see the potential impacts of decisions by taking into account the associated risks, probabilities, and impacts.
Term
How does a decision tree work?
Definition
A decision tree takes into account future events in trying to make a decision today.
It calculates the expected monetary value (probability times impact) in more complex situations than the expected monetary value examples previously presented.
It involves mutual exclusivity (two events are said to be mutually exclusive if they cannot both occur in a single trial).
Term
How often should the Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis process be done?
Definition
Since risk is an iterative process the Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis process should be done whenever there is a change in the project to determine the risk impact of the change on the project as a whole.
Term
What are the outputs from the perform Quantitative Risk Analysis?
Definition
Update the risk register
Term
Define Expected Monetary Value
Definition
Expected monetary value of an individual risk is probability times impact, and expected monetary value (the risk exposure) of a project is the sum off all those probabilities and impacts.
Term
The probability weighted average of all possible outcomes, calculated by summing all the quantitative probabilities times impact for risks on the project.
Definition
Expected monetary value
Term
Computerized method of estimating that simulates the project to determine time or cost estimates based on probability distributions
Definition
Monte Carlo Simulation
Term
Numerically analyzing the probability and impact of risks obtained in the Identify Risks process and analyzing the extent of overall project risk
Definition
Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis process
Term
The level of the risk on the project
Definition
Risk Exposure
Term
A model of a situation used to see the potential impacts of decisions by taking into account associated risks, probabilities, and impacts
Definition
Decision tree
Term
What is the objective of the Plan Risk Responses process?
Definition
The objective of the Plan Risk Responses is to determine what can be done to reduce the overall risk of the project by decreasing the probability and impact of threats and increasing the probability and impact of opportunities
Term
What are the inputs to the Plan Risk Responses process?
Definition
Risk management plan
Risk register
*List of prioritized risks
*Ranking of the project risks
*Risk scores and expected monetary values of top risks
*Potential risk owners
*Watchlist
Forecast of potential schedule and costs for the project
Monte Carlo Analysis probability of achieving the project objectives
Historical records about risk responses form past projects and common risk causes
Risk Thresholds
Term
When should the approach used for the Plan Risk Responses be identified?
Definition
The approach used for the Plan Risk Responses process should be part of the risk management plan your created in the Plan Risk Management Process
Term
What are the Risk Response strategies for threats?
Definition
Avoid - Eliminate the threat of teh risk be eliminating the cause
Mitigate (control) - Reduce the expected monetary value of a risk by reducing its impact or probability of occurrence.
Transfer (Allocate) - Assign the risk to someone else by subcontracting or buying insurance
Accept - Acceptance can be passive ("if it happens, it happens) or active (create a contingency plan). This is a response strategy for both threats and opportunities
Term
What are the Risk response strategies for opportunities?
Definition
Exploit (instead of avoidance) - Increase the opportunity by making the cause more probable.
Enhance (instead of mitigation) - Increase the expected time, quality, or monetary value of a risk by increasing its probability or impact of occurrence
Share (instead of transfer or allocate) - Retain appropriate opportunities or parts of opportunities instead of attempting to transfer them to others.
Accept - Acceptance can be passive ("if it happens, it happens) or active (create a contingency plan). This is a response strategy for both threats and opportunities
Term
When selecting risk response strategies, it is important to remember?
Definition
Strategies must be timely
The effort selected must be appropriate to the the severity of the risk - avoid spending more money preventing the risk than the impact the risk would cost if it occurred
One responses can be used to address more than one risk
Involve the team, other stakeholders, and experts in selecting a strategy
Term
How can risk affect the project management plan?
Definition
Risk can affect any of the following components of a project management plan:
Project definition/scope statement
Work breakdown structure
Network diagram
Schedule
Risk analysis
Budget
Assumptions
Management plans (quality, procurement, cost, time, human resource, communications, etc.)
Term
Define Residual risks
Definition
Risks that remain after the Plan Risk Responses process are called residual risks. These are the risks for which contingency plans and fallback plans are created
Term
What is a risk owner
Definition
A risk owner is a stakeholder who could also be a project team or risk team member with particular knowledge about the risk or expertise in handling the risk.
Term
What is a Contingency Plan
Definition
Planned actions to be taken if the threat or opportunity happens are called contingency plans
Term
What happens if the contingency plan does not work?
Definition
Risk management involves creating plans in case the contingency plans fail. These are called fallback plans.
Term
Define Triggers
Definition
A trigger is an early warning sign that tells risk owners and project managers that an accepted risk has occurred or is about to occur and, therefore, when to implement contingency or fallback plans
Term
What is a secondary risk?
Definition
A secondary risk is a risk that is generated by a response strategy to another risk. In other words, the response to a risk can create another risk. Risk response plans should include addressing secondary risks. Secondary risks should be qualified and/or quantified, and responses should be planned. a secondary risk should not have a greater impact than the risk from which it was derived.
Term
What is a reserve
Definition
A reserve is an amount of time and/or cost added to the project to account for --- you guessed it --- risks.
Term
What are the two types of reserves and what are they used for?
Definition
The tow types of reserves: Contingency reserves (to deal with the known unknowns, i.e., the identified residual risks that remain after risk response planning) and management reserves (to deal with unknown unknowns, i.e., risks that have not been identified.
Term
How would you create a contingency reserve using Monte Carlo?
Definition
*Determine the acceptable probability (e.g., 80 percent, 90 percent).
*Refer to the Monte Carlo simulations to see the time and cost associated with that probability
*That amount will be the project budget or schedule length
*Deduct the schedule or cost length from the total activity-based schedule or cost estimate created during the project planning
*The difference is the contingency reserve
Term
Prior to the Plan Risk Responses phase what information is included in the risk register?
Definition
*Description of risks
*The activities they relate to
*Potential risk owners, risk responses, and triggers
*The final probability and impact rating of each risk
*The risk's ranking among the remaining risks on the project
Term
The Plan Risk Response process uses information collected throughout and adds the following information to the risk register:
Definition
*Finalized triggers for each risk
*Response plans for each risk
*Contingency and fallback plans for each risk
*Triggers for contingency plans for each risk
*Finalized risk owners (persons assigned to each risk)
*List of non-top risks for future reference that will be monitored throughout the project.
*If quantitative risk analysis has been done, quantitative probabilities, impacts, and expected monetary values of time and cost can be included
*You may also choose to add other information specific to your project
Term
Which risk response (method) would be used? When risk of fire, theft, or other areas for which insurance is available are identified, the risk response may be to purchase insurance.
Definition
This is transference, as someone else will be responsible if the risk happens. This is also a mitigation choice because the complete impact in not removed. If a fire occurs, the damage cost would be covered by insurance, but such things as project delays would not.
Term
What are the outputs of the Plan Risk Responses Process?
Definition
Risk Register Updates (to Include)
* Residual risks
*Contingency Plans
*Risk Owners
*Secondary Risks
*Risk triggers
*Contracts
*Fallback plans
*Reserves (contingency)
Term
What are residual risks
Definition
These are the risks that remain after risk response planning, including those that have been accepted and for which contingency plans and fallback plans can be created. Residual risks should be properly documented and reviewed throughout the project to see if their ranking has changed.
Term
Define Contingency Plans
Definition
Contingency plans are plans describing the specific actions that will be taken if the opportunity or threat occurs.
Term
Define Risk owners
Definition
Each risk must be assigned to someone who may help develop the risk response and who will be assigned to carry out the risk response or "own" the risk. The risk owner can be a stakeholder other than a team member.
Term
What are Secondary Risks
Definition
Frequently, what is done to respond to one risk will cause other risks to occur.
Term
Define Risk Triggers
Definition
The early warning signs (indirect manifestations of actual risk events) for each risk on a project should be identified to know when to take action.
Term
What are Fallback plans
Definition
These are specific actions that will be taken if the contingency plan is not effective.
Term
Define Reserves (contingency)
Definition
Having reserves for schedule and cost is a required part of project management. You cannot come up with a schedule or budget for the project without them.
Term
What is the objective of the Plan Risk Responses process
Definition
The objective of the Plan Risk Responses is to determine what you can do to reduce the overall risk of the project by decreasing the probability and impact of negative risks (threats) and increasing the probability of positive risks (opportunities).
Term
Risks that are generated by a response to another risk are called?
Definition
Secondary risks
Term
Eliminate the threat of a risk by eliminating the cause is what type of risk response?
Definition
Avoid
Term
Do nothing _ "if it happens, it happens," or create a contingency plan is what type of risk response?
Definition
Accept
Term
Retain appropriate opportunities or parts of opportunities instead of attempts to transfer them to others is what type of risk response?
Definition
Share
Term
Increase the expected time, quality, or monetary value of a risk by increasing its probability or impact of occurrence is what type of risk response?
Definition
Enhance
Term
Increase the opportunity by making the cause more probable is what type of risk response?
Definition
Exploit
Term
What mitigation response assigns the liability for a risk to someone else?
Definition
Insurance
Term
An amount of time and/or cost added to the project to account for risks.
Definition
Reserve (contingency)
Term
A legal agreement for the purchase or sale of goods and services
Definition
Contract
Term
An amount of time and/or cost added to the project to deal with known unknowns, i.e., identified risks
Definition
Contingency reserve
Term
Determining what can be done to reduce the overall risk of the project by decreasing the probability and impact of threats and increasing the probability and impact of opportunities.
Definition
Plan Risk Responses process
Term
Planned actions to be taken if the risk happens and contingency plans are not effective
Definition
Fallback Plans
Term
Risks that remain after risk response planning ?
Definition
Residual risks
Term
Assign the risk to someone else by subcontracting or buying insurance is what type of risk response
Definition
Transfer
Term
Planned actions to be taken if the risk happens?
Definition
Contingency plans
Term
Reduce the expected monetary value of a risk by reducing its impact or probability of occurrence.
Definition
Mitigate
Term
An amount of time and/or cost added to the project to deal with unknown unknowns, i.e., risks that have not been identified
Definition
Management Reserve
Term
The person assigned by the project manager to watch for triggers and manage the risk response if the risk occurs
Definition
Risk Owner
Term
Early warning sign that a risk has occurred or is about to occur
Definition
Triggers
Term
The person assigned by the risk owner to implement approved risk responses
Definition
Risk action owner
Term
The person assigned by the risk owner to implement pre-approved risk responses
Definition
Risk action owner
Term
During the Monitor and Control process, risk owners will respond to risk triggers by doing what?
Definition
Implementing contingency plans and fallback plans, if needed.
The project manager should make sure the contingency plans and fallback plans are understood and complied with. Unauthorized changes to these plans have the same impact to the project as other unauthorized project changes and should therefore be avoided.
Term
Beside managing the Critical path what else should the project manager be watching during the Monitor and Control process?
Definition
Why not also determine the path through the network diagram that has the highest risk score? The path with the highest risk score should be managed as closely a the critical path.
Term
What is the contingency reserve used for?
Definition
The contingency reserve is to accommodate the known unknowns for the project. This means that it should ONLY be used for identified risks that actually take place.
Term
What is the management reserve used for?
Definition
The management reserve is used for unknown unknowns - risks that have not be identified.
Term
What is a workaround
Definition
A workaround is an unplanned response to an unidentified risk that occurs.
Work arounds are reactive; project management is supposed to be proactive. Project managers should be spending much more time executing contingency and fallback plans then creating workarounds.
Term
What is the difference between and risk and an issue?
Definition
An issue is an unforeseen, minor problem that has occurred. It may be handled by listing it on a project action item list and managing it, or by creating a workaround.
Term
What is a risk review?
Definition
A risk review is a way to control risks and manage changes. It can also be the vehicle for identifying new risks and making sure everyone understands the contingency and fallback plans. Risk reviews look forward in time to what should happen for risk.
Term
What is a risk audit and what does it do?
Definition
A risk audit looks backwards in time to what has occurred.
A risk audit includes:
Reviewing if the right risk owners have been assigned to each risk
Determining if the risk owners are effective
Examining and documenting the effectiveness of contingency plans and fallback plans
Term
What is earned value analysis
Definition
Earned value analysis is used to quantitatively measure and monitor overall project performance against the project baseline.
Term
What is the formula for CPI (cost performance index)?
Definition
CPI (cost performance index) = EV (earned value) divided by AC (actual cost)

CPI = EV/AC
Term
What is the formula for Schedule Performance Index?
Definition
SPI (schedule performance index) = EV (earned value) divided by PV (planned value)

SPI = EV/PV
Term
What does a Cost Performance Index of less then one represent?
Definition
A CPI of less than one means a bad situation
Term
What does a SPI of greater than one mean?
Definition
An SPI of greater than one means a good situation
Term
How could the change in the cost of performance potentially impact the project?
Definition
It could impact quality, customer satisfaction, or schedule of the project.
Term
During the Monitor and Control process what are two major times when a risk reassessment might occur?
Definition
When new risks are identified and when changes occur on the project. Keep looking for risk when changes are made on the project.
Term
What are the outputs to the Monitor and Control Risk process?
Definition
The risk register updated with the following information as a result of this process:
Outcomes of the risk reassessments and risk audits.
Updates to previous parts of risk management, including the identification of new risks.
Closing of risks that are no longer applicable
Details of what happened when risks occurred
Lessons learned

Change Requests, including recommended corrective and preventative actions.

Project Management Plan Updates

Project Document Updates

Organizational Process Assets Updates.
Term
Analysis of what the project team has planned for risk management to determine whether it is still appropriate
Definition
Risk Review
Term
Control the appropriate use of reserves
Definition
Manage reserves
Term
Analysis of what the project team has done for risk management to determine whether it has worked.
Definition
Risk Audit
Term
Changes implemented in order to bring performance back in line with the project management plan
Definition
Corrective action
Term
A method to quantitatively measure and monitor overall project performance against the project baseline
Definition
Earned value analysis
Term
Making sure policies, procedures, and plans are being followed
Definition
Ensure compliance
Term
Implementing the risk response plans as risks occur, looking for risk triggers, identifying new risks,and evaluating the effectiveness of risk responses
Definition
Monitor and Control Risk process
Term
Looking for new risks when changes are made on the project
Definition
Risk reassessment
Term
Oversee project performance and activities
Definition
Monitor
Term
Measurement of factors such as strength of concrete, measurable wind resistance of a a building, meeting functionality requirements, strength of the plastic used in a product, etc., to identify deviations from the plan
Definition
Technical performance measurement
Term
Measure to determine the results of actions taken
Definition
Evaluate the effectiveness
Term
Unplanned responses to unidentified risks that occur
Definition
Workarounds
Term
What is involved in project risk governance?
Definition
Risk governance involves oversight of the entire risk management process, making sure the risk management activities are consistent, and that they are continuously improved throughout the organization.
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