Improving Risk Registers with the Five Why’s

Jeff Miller, our Exotek Consultant, that is leading our Project Management Peer Groups, recently shared how PM’s really struggle with Risk Management. When looking at their risks, they often identified some key risks that did have the potential to affect their projects significantly, however, they really struggled with risk mitigation plans that minimize these potential risks. So, he’d recommend using the 5 Why’s to uncover the real risk drivers, so they could then plan accordingly. This Article talks about this very topic.

An example to help folks better understand this concept revolves around a very common risk, schedule slippage. The team may identify a risk of schedule slippage for many projects but in particular when the contract calls out liquidated damages. When you use they why questions, they may go something like this:

1. Q – Why do you feel there is a potential for slipping the schedule? A – well, the engineers are always late at getting us the drawing package for us to make good decisions.
2. Q – Why do you think the engineers will be late on this particular project? A – well I heard that my Lead Engineer is tied up in a startup for the first 3 weeks of this project.
3. Q – Why do you feel that your Lead Engineer is the key to getting your drawing package out on time? A – I have always been able to depend on Jake, he never lets me down.
4. Q – So if Jake is not available, can we talk to the Engineering Manager to see if another Lead Engineer can be assigned to your project? A – well possibly, but I am hearing they are all very busy.
5. Q – If they are all busy, do you really need the entire package of drawings or are there one or two that would really make the difference? A – well really all I need is an updated P&ID to keep me moving for now and then Jake would be back from his startup.

By continuing to ask more ‘why’ questions, you get to something that you can actually act on which then is easy to assign and know if it is making a difference.

If you found this useful, consider joining one of our Project Management Peer Groups.