Beating IT Risks

Appendix A. Review checklists

These review questions are to be supplemented by specific issues relating to the project, organization or technology. They complement the project risk health check at the end of Chapter 4. Merely answering 'yes' is not enough; these assertions need to be well supported.

Key review questions to answer: Completion of concept and feasibility stage

Business rationale

• Are targeted business benefits clearly articulated?

• Is the approach for realizing the benefits understood and planned?

• Is there clear alignment with organization objectives?

• Are business and user requirements defined?

• Do executive sponsors and user representatives agree the concept?

Solution and delivery options

• Has there been exploration of various solution options?

• Do solution options exist that are technically feasible?

• Do vendors and internal / external service providers have pre-existing products and service capability that will meet the requirement?

• Are delivery timeframes acceptable?

• Is the technical complexity of the solution understood?

• Are non-functional requirements defined?

• Can the solution achieve compliance with technology architectures and standards and fit within the existing technical environment?

Commercial value

• Is there a sufficiently robust quantification of business benefits being sought?

• Is the range of estimates of project cost comprehensive?

• Will the initiative deliver a positive net present value and / or achieve other 'investment hurdle' criteria?

Organizational impact

• Is the customer ...