A quick-and-dirty way to assess how risky your project really is.

Risk analysis isn't a complicated process, but it is exacting. The trick is to know enough about the potential dangers to have a solution prepared ahead of time. The tool below is designed for people who have never done a risk analysis, or those who are looking for a quick-and-dirty format to make the next one easier.

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The process comes in two steps. First, identify the risks by asking the workers involved in each part of the process what they're most worried about. Once you have the risks, you then have to prioritize them according to how likely they are to occur and how big a problem they would cause. In the first table, list your fears. In the second, use your judgment and those of your project team members to rate the risks and build an action plan to deal with any that do happen.

In the example in the PDF download, we identify potential problems with a sample project: a new human-resources tracking system. Identify your own risks by asking project team members from the departments involved, plus information technology and management, what could go wrong. These categories are designed only to help you classify risks; don't hesitate to add others that seem applicable to your particular project.

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