Identifying and Managing Project Risk
What People Are Saying:
Elizabeth Harrin (ProjectManagementRebels.com, United Kingdom), Director, Otobos Consultants Ltd:
I read the 4th edition (due out January 2024, thank you to the author and publisher for the advance readers copy). It's a big book, with lots of detail, and it can be a bit heavy at times, but there is so much useful stuff in here.
I loved the example of the Panama Canal which carries through the book and is a really good teaching tool for how risk management can be applied in real life. The PERIL database data is insightful and relevant.
I'd recommend this book for students of project management but also practitioners. There is so much more to risk management than making a list of what might go wrong and then assigning someone to keep an eye on it. This book shows you what to do, with examples at each step of the process. There is a full explanation of risk implications for scope, schedule and resources, as well as common risk mitigation strategies that will help you get a head start in knowing what to do about your project risks.
If you've ever wondered how to 'do' risk management, this book will make it completely clear and save you from the headaches of, "If only we'd thought about that in advance."
From Elizabeth's reviews on Goodreads.com.
Charles Bosler (RiskTrak International, Washington, D.C.) Founder, PMI RiskSIG:
The best handbook we know of is now even better. It's an invaluable resource for today’s project manager and anyone practicing Program or project risk management. Tom’s World-class PERIL database is priceless.
Thomas Kommer, JD, SHRM-SCP, Faculty - Construction Management Department, College of Architecture & Environmental Design at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo:
One of the best business books on the market to expose readers to the "Uh-oh's" and "What-ifs" of any business undertaking. Kendrick does an extremely thorough job at peeling-the-onion-back to expose multiple layers of uncertainty. Having used the previous version as a textbook for our undergraduate Construction Risk Management course, I am delighted to be able to include this latest version in the course syllabus.
Patricia Ensworth, PMP, Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University:
As project managers progress in their careers from leading small initiatives to taking responsibility for large-scale strategic deliverables, many realize that they lack sufficient expertise in dealing with inevitable volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity factors which could thwart their goals. This book by a knowledgeable, articulate veteran with an outstanding professional track record provides comprehensive, clear, and useful instructions.
Neil Littell, Ph.D., PMP, CSMS, Director of Graduate Project Management Programs and Associate Professor and Kraft Family Scholar at Ohio University:
Identifying and Managing Project Risk is the most comprehensive project risk playbook I have ever seen. If you use just one book as a reference, this should be it.
Gavin Halling (risktools.com, Australia):
This book provides really valuable insight with small theoretical components brought to light by large real world practical examples. Each chapter enables a concept to be truly understood and applied. Essential reading for any project team if they want to improve their project outcomes.”
Alfonso Bucero Author, PMP, PMI Fellow (abucero.com, Madrid, Spain), Bucero PM Consulting:
I believe this is a great book, and I will be recommending it to my PM students. I think is well structured, and what I liked most are:
- The Panama Canal Case study. I believe is a great example. I know the Panama Canal story and it is very relevant in this book.
- The clarity of your diagrams
- The key points at the end of each chapter
- The clear flow of the book
Al DeLucia, Director, Project Management Division General Services Administration (GSA), Philadelphia, PA
Anyone who—like me—has struggled to relate the abstract discussion of Risk Management in the PMBOK® to actual project management practice will welcome this down-to-earth presentation. This book shows how to incorporate risk management into the planning of your project along the way—the entire way—of the project development sequence.
Read Al's full review.
Don White, Ph.D., MBA. Professor and Chair, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA:
I found this excellent book on identifying and managing project risk to be well-grounded on strong fundamentals of project risk management. It is very comprehensive yet easy to read, filled with the spectrum of useful tools and approaches, and illustrated with numerous insightful practical examples. In particular, examples from the PERIL database and linkage to PMBOK® 2000 in every chapter were especially valuable.
Overall, I expect that this book will become the benchmark reference guide on project risk management.
Paul T. Malinowski, Director of Corporate Engineering, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ.
I enjoyed the book very much—the combination of practical examples and user-friendly tools make application of the concepts possible. I like the High-Level Risk Assessment tool—we will pilot these tools on several teams. I really appreciate the real-life examples that help illustrate the key points.
Nancy McDonald, Associate Partner, Accenture, Wilmington, DE:
This book addresses both the science and the art of project management. A great read for both new and experienced project managers, as well as aspiring project managers. The Panama Canal example provided discerning insights into why some projects fail and others succeed. I couldn't wait to read about how that project ultimately turned out!
Ted Lancaster, Director of Global Engineering Services, Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA:
Kendrick provides what is so often lacking in Project Management texts--real life experience as a project manager to bring the practical application of difficult theories to life. He explores the wide range of risk management techniques that are critical to successfully delivering complex projects. A delight to read and apply.
J. D. Watson, Manager, Global Telecommunications, DuPont Textiles & Interiors, Wilmington, DE:
This book is not only effective in minimizing risk in the design of projects, but helpful with prescriptive mitigation strategies to recover a project in need. The book has already found a place on my desk...like a good cookbook, it's starting to get marked up and dog-eared from frequent use.
David O'Neal, PMP, Business and IT Consultant, Sunnyvale, CA:
It is a sad fact of life that most project managers do not have the liberty of choosing or selecting from among the projects to which they commit big chunks of their lives. Usually when it's dumped in their lap, they must manage or else. It's clear that Tom Kendrick understands this, and he gets immediately to the heart of the single biggest issue that all PMs must face--failure.
Read [this book] slowly, scan it, or study it. Pick what works for you. There are gems everywhere. Coming from a broad business background, I was surprised and pleased with the comprehensive presentation of project management as a systemic whole.