Chapter 15

How Do I Reduce Risk?

Top executives consistently overestimate benefits and underestimate risks.

Margaret Wente

There are substantial risks associated with every big business change. Your project plan is probably largely based on past experiences and the information you have to date, but new circumstances or unanticipated events (or negative reactions) can wreak havoc with it. You need to pressure-test your plan and plan for things that can go wrong. It's like Mission: Impossible, or at least you'll often feel that way: “Your job, should you choose to accept it,” is to identify risks, mitigate them before the launch, and build in contingency plans (in case the risks materialize).

There are two types of risk: technical risks (for example, ...

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