www.iir-ny.com/index.cfm/Link=342 - 27k - Kopia -

Positive risk

Negative risk is represented by potential future events that could impact your project negatively. In general, they are to be avoided (although there are different risk strategies, depending on the risk we are dealing with). Positive risk, on the other hand, refers to risk that we initiate ourselves because we see a potential opportunity, as well as a potential for failure. This is what we are referring to when we say that we are intelligent risk takers.

New technology may be a good example. Let’s say that you have a software development project that is scheduled to take 90 days to complete. Your business client would rather the project be delivered earlier and would get more value if it were delivered earlier, but they understand that 90 days is how long the project will take.


Tom Mochal is currently President of TenStep, Inc., a methodology development, consulting and training company. Tom has built a project management methodology called TenStep (www.TenStep.com) and a framework for implementing and supporting project management within companies called PMOStep (www.PMOStep.com). Tom has over 24 years of IT experience at Geac Computers, The Coca-Cola Company, Cap Gemini E&Y and Eastman Kodak. He has published hundreds of columns, and has presented and trained on project management and life-cycle topics around the world.