How to use the risk assessment matrix to organize your project better

Rarely do projects get launched without running into some kind of problem. Living in a world where this does not happen would be like a dream. However, in today’s world market, trends change rapidly, so the risk cannot be avoided.

If you are launching your business, you should consider doing a risk assessment matrix. Even when you are doing a new task, one of the questions that you should ask is, “What could go wrong?”. In the modern digital world, a lot of online tools exist that help and automate building the forecasts and planning your new business but in many cases, it’s still good to do this manually.

A risk assessment matrix is a tool that was developed to analyze risk. Yes, we can use data to analyze risks. By doing so, any organization can detect and prioritize different risks. They do this by estimating the probability of occurrence.

What is a risk assessment matrix?

risk-assesent How to use the risk assessment matrix to organize your project better
Image source: Fred Wilson

A risk matrix is sometimes also called the Probability Matrix, or Impact Matrix. This is an effective tool that can help in risk evaluation by focusing on the probability of potential risks.

A risk assessment matrix can help you calculate project risk quickly. It does this by identifying the things that could go wrong and weighting the potential damage. This makes it easy to prioritize problems. Action will be needed in order to keep a project on course, and safe as well.

Project managers should think about potential risks in order to avoid risk events from happening. While managing uncertainty sounds challenging, there are more and more calculating risk tools available today that can help and require little effort on your part.  Simply create your own risk assessment matrix and use it as many times as you need.

Here are some benefits that you can take advantage of when making your risk matrix:

  • You will be able to prioritize the risks with the level of severity.
  • You get a simple process for the management of risk.
  • It helps you in finding the potential risk with minimal effort.
  • Information is recorded and audited.
  • It demonstrates the organization’s ability to managing risk.
  • It helps in neutralizing any possible consequences.

How to make a risk assessment matrix

If you want to do your own risk assessment matrix, you can start by defining the scope of work. Depending on what you are trying to improve, you need to identify different areas of risk. Choose your objective and make sure it is clear as possible.

Step 1: Identify Hazards

hazards How to use the risk assessment matrix to organize your project better

In order to start, you want to go for as many risks as you can. The idea behind this is to get different views. A brainstorming session could be of help. The list that you get is going to be the foundation of the risk assessment matrix.

Connected with your scope, the list needs to belong and detailed. It can include anything from theft, to burns, and even pollution. It is really important that you think at all potential risks for any new project you are working on.

You can also think about what happens when you identify them. But not to worry, we will discuss that soon enough.

Step 2: Risk Analysis

analysis How to use the risk assessment matrix to organize your project better

The risk analysis is not something to take lightly. There are certain steps that you need to follow in order to do effective management of risks. When an organization has pitched all the right risks, the next step is going to carefully evaluate them.

A risk assessment matrix focuses a lot of chances and consequences as the main focus. But depending on the organization, we are talking about you can encounter terms like “vulnerability” or “speed of onset”.

Step 3: Determining Risk Impact

riskchart How to use the risk assessment matrix to organize your project better

Any risk assessment matrix means that you will need to check probabilities and consequences of risk events that might happen. The results of such assessments are used to make a top of risks in order to find the most important ones, as well as less critical ones.

In a risk chart, you can see exactly how both high-risk and low-risk factors are shown. The impact of a successful attack can be split into two types: “technical impact” and the “business impact”.

Step 4: Prioritize the risks

When you will see a risk assessment matrix, you will be able to compare different levels of risk. It can include any internal rules or policies.

One thing that should be noted is that the risk assessment process can be an ongoing evolution. A matrix needs to change at the same time with changes that appear in your company. If it is done one time per year, emerging risks could go unnoticed or even undetected.

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How to use the risk assessment matrix?

When the risk assessment process is complete, you can start to take data into the matrix. Any risk assessment matrix uses two axes, one that measures the likelihood, and the other one measures the consequence result.

Likelihood: the probability of a risk

probability How to use the risk assessment matrix to organize your project better

Depending on the likelihood of the occurrence of the risk, the risk can be classified under these categories:

– A risk that is almost guaranteed to show up during the execution of the project. Any risk that is more than 85% likely to cause problems is going to fall under this category.

– Risks that have a 60%-80% chance to occur can be grouped as likely.

– Risks that have a 50/50 probability of occurrence are named occasional.

– Seldom are the risks that have a low probability of occurrence.

– Unlikely are the risks that have almost no probability of occurring.

Consequences: the severity of the impact or the extent of damage caused by the risk

consequences1 How to use the risk assessment matrix to organize your project better

The consequences of risk can be ranked into five categories. These are based on how severe the damage can get.

  • Risks that can cause a negligible amount of damage are called insignificant.
  • Risks that have a small potential for negative effects are called minor.
  • Risks that do not impose a great threat but are yet sizable damage can be classified as moderate.
  • Risks that have substantial negative effects and are going to impact in a serious way the success of a project is called critical.
  • Risks that come from human error or the environment. Other causes can be procedural deficiencies or major system loss. This will require the closing of the operation and is called catastrophic.

Knowing what elements a risk assessment matrix has is important. This is going to help you and your organization to manage risk effectively and reduce workplace incidents.

The risk assessment matrix is a document that has to be updated and maintained with curiosity. Risks are evolving and the matrix should do the same. Certain events are going to trigger the need for a refresh. One could be like establishing an enterprise risk management program.

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FAQs about the risk assessment matrix

1. What is a risk assessment matrix?

A risk assessment matrix is a tool used to rank risks according to their likelihood of happening and their potential impact. Often, it is displayed as a table with a range of likelihood and severity ratings that reflect various risk levels.

Organizations can use the matrix to identify and reduce potential hazards, which enables them to make wise choices about how to effectively manage risk.

2. How is a risk assessment matrix used in project management?

A risk assessment matrix is a crucial tool in project management because it enables teams working on the projects to recognize potential hazards and rank them appropriately.

Project managers can develop backup plans, spend resources wisely, and lessen the effect of potential hazards on project outcomes by assessing the likelihood and severity of risks.

The matrix can also assist project teams in alerting stakeholders to potential dangers and taking preventative measures to manage such risks.

3. What are the different types of risk assessment matrices?

Risk assessment matrices can be classified as either qualitative or quantitative. While quantitative risk assessment matrices employ statistical data to calculate the possibility of risks occurring and their possible impact, qualitative risk assessment matrices rely on their evaluations of likelihood and severity on subjective judgments.

Modified risk assessment matrices, bow-tie risk assessment matrices, and risk heat maps are examples of other forms of risk assessment matrices.

4. What are the benefits of using a risk assessment matrix?

A risk assessment matrix can be used to detect potential hazards, prioritize risks according to their severity and likelihood, develop contingency plans to manage risks, improve communication with stakeholders, and lower the risk of project failure, among other advantages.

The matrix enables businesses to mitigate potential risks and meet their project goals by assisting them in making well-informed decisions about how to manage risk effectively.

5. How do you determine the severity of a risk in a risk assessment matrix?

The likelihood that a risk will hurt the goals of the project is often used to determine how serious it is.

This may involve monetary expenses, harm to one’s reputation, or environmental effects. The severity level is often determined using a scale from low to high and according to a set of standards.

Depending on the exact environment of the project or organization, the criteria may change.

6. How do you determine the likelihood of a risk in a risk assessment matrix?

Assessing the possibility of an event happening often yields the risk’s likelihood. Analyzing previous data, professional judgments, or statistical models could be included in this.

The likelihood level is often assessed using a scale from low to high and is based on several different factors. Depending on the exact environment of the project or organization, the criteria may change.

7. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative risk assessment matrices?

While quantitative risk assessment matrices employ statistical data to calculate the possibility of risks occurring and their possible impact, qualitative risk assessment matrices rely on their evaluations of likelihood and severity on subjective judgments.

Quantitative matrices are more sophisticated and are better suited to larger, more complex projects, whereas qualitative matrices are often easier to use and good for small-scale tasks.

8. How do you prioritize risks in a risk assessment matrix?

In a risk assessment matrix, risks are typically ranked in order of severity and likelihood using scores. With high-priority risks requiring immediate attention and low-priority risks requiring less urgent action, the scores are then used to rank hazards in order of importance.

The resources needed to manage each risk and the potential influence on project goals may also be taken into account when determining priority.

9. How often should you update your risk assessment matrix?

The type of project being undertaken and the potential dangers it may expose will determine how frequently a risk assessment matrix is updated.

Projects with higher degrees of uncertainty, for instance, can need more frequent updates, whereas initiatives with lower levels of risk might need fewer updates more frequently.

Generally speaking, risk assessment matrices should be evaluated and updated frequently over the course of a project to make sure they accurately capture its present state and any changes in risk.

10. What are the limitations of a risk assessment matrix?

Risk assessment matrices have significant drawbacks despite their value. First off, the quality of the data and the presumptions made about the likelihood and seriousness of hazards affect how accurate risk assessment matrices are. Second, creating risk assessment matrices can take a lot of time and resources, especially for bigger projects.

The identification and management of recognized hazards may become overly reliant on risk assessment matrices, which may fail to recognize developing threats.

To ensure that possible risks are detected and handled successfully, it is crucial to employ risk assessment matrices in conjunction with other risk management tools and approaches.

Ending thoughts on the risk assessment matrix

In conclusion, a risk assessment matrix is only going to do good things for you and your organization. Whether this is the first time you are doing it, or you are experienced, you can check the information above and already have some ideas regarding what you need to do.

Do not forget that without it you can potentially create a lot of havoc in your company, causing a loss in productivity and time. You will want to study it carefully and see if you can do it independently.

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