Use these guides and templates to manage risk from the first identification workshop through to regular review and reporting.
Start with the risk management process, then choose the guide or template that matches the task in front of you. You can learn how to find and organise risks, assess their likelihood and impact, record them in a risk register, plan responses and report progress.
Start with risk management
These guides explain the full process and provide a useful starting point if you are setting up risk management for a project.
Risk management guide
Follow a practical process to identify, assess, respond to, monitor and control project risks.
Project risk management
Learn why projects need active risk management and what the project manager should do.
Identify and organise risks
Good risk management starts with a broad and structured search for uncertainty. These guides help you find risks and arrange them into useful groups.
Risk breakdown structure
Learn how to build a risk breakdown structure, or RBS, that groups sources of risk into clear categories. Use it to improve risk identification and provide a consistent structure for the risk register.
Risk identification
Find out how to identify project and business risks without overlooking less obvious threats and opportunities.
Top 50 business risks
Use this checklist of common business risks as a prompt for workshops and planning sessions.
Assess and prioritise risks
Assess each risk so that the team can focus attention and resources where they are most needed.
Risk assessment
Review the formal process for assessing and controlling risk.
Qualitative risk analysis
Use expert judgement and agreed scales to compare and prioritise project risks.
Overall project risk assessment template
Assess the overall risk level of a project across its organisation, planning and technology.
Simple 3 by 3 risk assessment matrix
Use a simple low, medium and high matrix to assess straightforward risks.
4 by 4 risk assessment matrix
Use four levels of likelihood and impact to give risks a more detailed score.
5 by 5 aviation risk assessment matrix
Review a detailed aviation safety example using five likelihood and impact levels.
Risk registers and risk logs
A risk register records each identified risk, its assessment, owner, response and current status.
Risk register guide
Learn what a risk register should contain and download versions in Word and Excel.
Risk register of common project risks
Start with 20 common project risks, including suggested mitigating and contingent actions.
Video guide to editing the register
Watch how to adapt the common project risks register for your own project.
Mind map of common project risks
Explore common project risks in a visual mind map before adding relevant risks to your register.
Simple risk register template
Use a shorter register for a small business or a less complex project.
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PRINCE2 risk register
Download a PRINCE2-style risk register in Excel, PDF and mind-map formats.
Risk Management in Healthcare: NHS Examples and Best Practice
Review a real risk log, spot its weaknesses and learn how clearer entries can improve risk management.
Plan risk responses
Decide what action to take, who owns it and when the team must review it.
Possible responses to risk
Compare the main responses available for threats and opportunities.
Risk mitigation
Use practical strategies to reduce the chance of a risk occurring or limit its impact.
Risk insurance
Learn how insurance can transfer or reduce the financial effect of selected risks.
Construction risk management
Construction projects face safety, commercial, design, supply and delivery risks. Use these focused guides and examples.
Risk management in construction
Review the main processes and controls used to manage risk in construction.
List of construction risks
Use this list of 30 risks as a starting point for your project risk register.
Construction risk register
Download an Excel risk register created for construction projects.
Plans, reports and supporting templates
Risk management plan template
Set out how the project will identify, assess, respond to and monitor risk.
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PRINCE2 risk management strategy
Download a PRINCE2-style strategy in several formats.
Enterprise risk management report
Learn how to prepare a useful report for senior managers and decision-makers.
Risk data sheet
Store extra detail about a complex or high-priority risk.
Definitions and reference guides
Definition and meaning of risk
Compare the ways different fields and standards define risk.
Risk management glossary
Look up the main terms used in risk management.
A practical route through these guides
Begin with the risk management guide. Build a risk breakdown structure to organise your search. Record the risks in a risk register, assess them and agree clear responses with named owners.