Risk management in a statewide e-mail system implementation project

Project Risk Q's

The network infrastructure is problematic in certain areas of the state, meaning that the existing infrastructure may not support the deployment of the e-mail system in all necessary areas.

Negative Risk -- Mitigate

Not having the appropriate network infrastructure presents a negative risk that needs to be mitigated through planning. There is high probability of having problems with infrastructure however the extents of these problems are currently not known and could be severe. Therefore it is recommended to conduct an assessment of the infrastructure capabilities so that they can be modernized to support the system. This should be conducted as soon as possible so it can be built into the project plan.

Several of the vendors have offered to develop specialized e-mail address books and templates for the state users, if their product is selected.

Positive Opportunity -- Exploit

This represents an opportunity for the project to add customized features for the end users of the system. Even though these added features may be free, they should be also considered in regards to the scope and schedule. As long as it will not delay the project or add unneeded layers of complexity then this represents a value added feature that might be beneficial to the end users of the system.

In the resource planning stage of the effort, you've identified that the project lacks two network engineers and a business analyst who would be responsible for project documentation.

Negative Risk -- Mitigate -- Moderate

Having an understaffed project can cause many problems. However, identify the shortage early allows time to mitigate the threats. The easiest way to solve this problem is time hiring additional human resources to cover the needed positions. However there are other potential solutions as well. If the budget will not allow additional employees to be hired then other solutions such as paying overtime, hiring temporary workers, or extending the project schedule could also be considered.

The existing budget plan does not cover the anticipated 20% increase in licensing for one of the key candidate products under consideration (Globalcom).

Positive Opportunity -- Exploit

Taking advantage of volume discounts is basically a no brainer and this should be exploited as much as feasibly possible. It would be worthwhile to check with the vendors and request further information. Some issues that should be considered would be whether the purchase would have to be made at the same time and whether they have sufficient capabilities to service both organizations. Any other influence by this on the project's scope, schedule, and budget should also be considered but this opportunity is one that should be fully pursued.

3.Finally, using Web Resources or other links, identify software, project management tools, or diagramming techniques that can be used by the project team to help manage risk. One method of research is to enter the term "risk analysis software" or "risk analysis tools" into www.google.com and access the links that apply. For software applications, the most appropriate tools are the ones that interface with Microsoft Project, include Pert diagramming techniques, and/or provide a cost-benefit and analysis feature as well.

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