How do you update and refine your program risk and issue management as your program evolves and matures?

1 Define your risk and issue management process

Before you start your program, you need to establish a clear and consistent process for managing risks and issues. This includes defining the roles and responsibilities of the program team, the stakeholders, and the governance bodies; the criteria and methods for identifying, analyzing, prioritizing, and reporting risks and issues; the tools and templates for documenting and tracking risks and issues; and the escalation and resolution procedures for addressing risks and issues. Having a well-defined process will help you align your expectations, communicate effectively, and avoid confusion and duplication.

3 Conduct risk and issue workshops periodically

In addition to reviewing your risk and issue register, you should also conduct risk and issue workshops periodically, preferably at least once a quarter, to engage your program team and stakeholders in a collaborative and proactive discussion. Risk and issue workshops are an opportunity to revisit your program's objectives, assumptions, dependencies, and constraints; to brainstorm potential risks and issues that may arise or have been overlooked; to analyze the root causes, impacts, and interdependencies of risks and issues; and to develop or update action plans, contingency plans, and mitigation strategies. Conducting risk and issue workshops will help you generate new insights, foster buy-in and ownership, and enhance your program's resilience and adaptability.

4 Communicate your risk and issue status effectively

Communication is vital for successful program risk and issue management. You need to communicate your risk and issue status effectively to your program team, stakeholders, and governance bodies, using appropriate channels, formats, and frequencies. You should tailor your communication to suit the needs and expectations of your audience, focusing on the key messages, actions, and decisions that are relevant and meaningful to them. You should also use clear, concise, and consistent language, avoiding jargon and ambiguity. Communicating your risk and issue status effectively will help you build trust and credibility, increase awareness and transparency, and facilitate collaboration and support.

5 Learn from your risk and issue experience

Finally, you should learn from your risk and issue experience as your program evolves and matures. You should capture and document the lessons learned from your risk and issue management process, outcomes, and feedback, both during and after your program. You should also share and apply your lessons learned to improve your program's performance, quality, and delivery, as well as your own skills and competencies as a program manager. Learning from your risk and issue experience will help you enhance your program's value, sustainability, and impact, as well as your professional growth and development.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?