Project Risk Management: Processes, Techniques and Insights [Hardcover]

Chris Chapman (Author), Stephen Ward (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 19, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0471958042 | ISBN-13: 978-0471958048 | Edition: 1

In the estimating, planning, implementation and realisation of any project, large or small, an understanding of risk management is critical. The central aim of Project Risk Management is to set out the key issues and concepts involved in effective risk management in a clear and accessible way. The methodology is applicable to all kinds and all sizes of project, whether this warrants detailed, quantitative analysis or a "quick and dirty" approach using only qualitative analysis. Project Risk Management meets the growing need for a generic methodology employing a systematic approach to project risk management. A central concern of the authors is to provide a comprehensive discussion of risk management processes set firmly in the context of the project management task as a whole, with a view to improving project performance. Its emphasis is risk management rather than risk evaluation and it treats risk management as an "add in" (rather than as an "add on") to project management. Based on a sound conceptual foundation, developed to meet practical concerns, Project Risk Management is a clear, comprehensive guide relevant to anyone involved in managing a project. Project Management

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This book argues that risk management is a key task for project managers in any project. It describes a methodology for a systematic approach to risk management and discusses project risk management in the context of the project management task as a whole. Examples illustrate issues, concepts, and methodologies.

From the Inside Flap

Extensively revised and updated, this new edition of Project Risk Management builds on the success of the original book in showing how critical an understanding of risk management is in the estimating, planning, implementation and realisation of any project, large or small.

Project Risk Management sets out the key issues and concepts involved in effective risk management in a clear and accessible way, using a methodology that is applicable to all kinds and all sizes of projects, whether requiring detailed, quantitative analysis or a rougher approach using only qualitative analysis.

Project Risk Management met the growing need for a generic methodology that employed a systemic approach to project risk management. In this new edition, the authors expand on their discussion to include the latest developments within the field, and apply risk management processes in the context of the project management task as a whole, with the view to improving overall project performance.

Emphasizing risk management rather than risk evaluation, this book has been developed to meet your practical concerns. Based on a sound conceptual foundation Project Risk Management is a clear, comprehensive guide relevant to anyone involved in managing a project. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (December 19, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471958042
• ISBN-13: 978-0471958048
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,121,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavy on process and insight; light on technique, September 12, 2001

By 

Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Project Risk Management: Processes, Techniques and Insights (Hardcover)

This is the most comprehensive treatment of project risk management processes I have read. The focus is on the process itself, using techniques to illustrate the advice and insights that are heavily interspersed throughout. Because techniques are used to reinforce the information on process and insights this book is better suited for readers who have a good understanding of risk management techniques.

Another feature is the risk management processes provided can be used for either project or product management because of the fine granularity of the project life cycle used - instead of the typical 6-stage Requirements, Design, Build, Test, Implement and Operate stages the authors use an 8-stage project life cycle that begins with conception and includes post-planning allocation and post-delivery review milestones. Moreover, the typical risk management cycle of Identify, Analyze and Quantify, Prioritize and Manage is expanded into a much more detailed cycle that includes focusing, clarifying ownership issues, and scenario analysis. In particular, the scenario analysis sub process is an excellent approach and allows you to go well beyond the typical expected monetary value and probability x impact types of analyses.

The authors assume that you have a good grounding in both probability and fundamental quantitative analysis techniques, and while both probability and a variety of techniques are used as examples they are only superficially explained. The best part of the book, though, is the large number of insights imparted through cases and real-life situations. These are thought-provoking, but require careful reading (especially for American readers who may not be used to the norms of the British vernacular).

If you are interested in a mature project or product risk management process and have some background in risk management this is a five-star book that absolutely should be in your library.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I bought it 3 years ago and I still use it for my professional guidance, August 3, 2008

By 

Nagaraja Doddappa - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Project Risk Management: Processes, Techniques and Insights (Hardcover)

As project risk management is a daunting factor to mitigate failures in software engineering, I bought this book to learn ways to mitigate risks in project management by using techniques presented in this book. As a veteran in software engineering field and have been leading critical projects, I still use it as a good tool to learn and adopt suggestions and techniques from the book in my professional career.

I strongly recommend for project managers and technical leads in software and automation development.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Literature on Risk Management, October 11, 2007

By 

S. R. Sampathkumar - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Project Risk Management: Processes, Techniques and Insights (Hardcover)

All projects involve risk and risk involves both threat and opportunity. In today's world of project management, perhaps the single most important skill that a project manager can possess is risk management. Organizations that better understand the nature of the risks can manage them more effectively.

This book provides a framework for integrating risk management into the management of projects. It explains how to do this through the definition of generic risk management processes and shows how these processes can be mapped onto the stages of the project life cycle.

Another feature is the risk management processes provided can be used for either project or product management because of the fine granularity of the project life cycle used - instead of the typical 6-stage Requirements, Design, Build, Test, Implement and Operate stages the authors use an 8-stage project life cycle that begins with conception and includes post-planning allocation and post-delivery review milestones. Moreover, the typical risk management cycle of Identify, Analyze and Quantify, Prioritize and Manage is expanded into a much more detailed cycle that includes focusing, clarifying ownership issues, and scenario analysis. In particular, the scenario analysis sub process is an excellent approach and allows going well beyond the typical expected monetary value and probability & impact types of analyses.

The authors have set main emphasis on processes rather than analytical techniques. This book provides the reader with a fundamental understanding of project risk management processes but avoids being over prescriptive in the description of the execution of these processes. Instead, there is positive encouragement to use these generic processes as a starting point for elaboration and adaptation to suit the circumstances of a particular application, to innovate and experiment, to simplify and streamline the practical implementation of the generic processes to achieve cost-effective and efficient risk management.

The Authors have made good comparisons between their work and both PRAM and RAMP, as well as with the Project Management Institute's PMBOK 2000. They have developed and named the generic framework SHAMPU (Shape, Harness, and Manage Project Uncertainty) process and compare it with PRAM, RAMP, and PMBOK 2000.

The notion of risk efficiency is central to the theme. All risk management processes consume valuable resources and can themselves constitute a risk to the project that must be effectively managed. The level of investment in risk management within project must be challenged and justified on the level of expected benefit to the overall project.

The Authors document numerous examples drawn from real project experience to substantiate the benefits of a formal process-oriented approach. Ultimately, project risk management is about people making decisions to try to optimize the outcome, being proactive in evaluating risk and the possible responses, using this information to best effect, demonstrating the need for changes in project plans, taking the necessary action and monitoring the effects. Balancing risk and expectation is one of the most challenging aspects of project management. It can also be exciting and offer great satisfaction, provided the project manager is able to operate in a climate of understanding and openness about project risk. The cultural change required in organizations to achieve this can be difficult and lengthy, but there is no doubt that it will be easier to accomplish if risk management processes are better understood and integrated into the practice of project management.

The interesting part of the book is the large number of insights imparted through cases and real-life situations and these are thought provoking. This book is largely about how to achieve effective and efficient risk management in the context of a project. This book is an excellent literature on risk management and will be of interest to all involved in project management.