Should I take an umbrella?
The sky is grey. Will it rain? Maybe. If it rains and you have no umbrella, you get wet. Is that bad? A little.
You just did a risk check. You asked: how likely is it, and how bad would it be?
Software projects need the same check, but the things that can go wrong are bigger.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Risk | Something that might go wrong and cause harm to the project. | the server may fail |
| Likelihood | How likely it is to happen. | unlikely, likely |
| Seriousness | How bad it would be if it happened. | a small delay or a lost client |
| Impact | The real effect on the project, the users or the business. | a week of lost work |
| Risk register | A table that lists risks, how bad they are and what to do. | a spreadsheet of risks |
| Malicious | Done on purpose to cause harm. | a hacker |
| Accidental | Done by mistake, with no wish to cause harm. | deleting a file by mistake |
| Requirement | Something the software must do or be. | pay by card |
| Compatibility | Whether two systems can work together. | the app on an old phone |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Eight places to look for risk
| Area | The question | Example risk |
|---|---|---|
| Data and system security | Could data be stolen, lost or damaged? | A hacker steals customer data |
| Compatibility | Will it work with other systems? | The app does not work with the bank's system |
| Speed of development | Can we finish in time? | The team falls behind |
| Meeting the requirements | Will it do what was asked, and how well? | We forget a key requirement |
| Meeting the KPIs (key performance indicators) | Will it reach its numbers? | The page is too slow |
| Legal and ethical | Does it follow the law and treat people fairly? | We collect data without permission |
| User engagement | Will people want to use it? | Nobody downloads it |
| Product reach | Will it reach enough people, in the right places? | It works on Android only |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Malicious or accidental?
Have a go
Malicious or accidental?
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Worked example: the risk grid
| Step | Working | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Give likelihood a number from 1 to 5 | Server fails: unlikely | 2 |
| Give seriousness a number from 1 to 5 | Server fails: very serious | 5 |
| Multiply the two numbers | 2 times 5 | 10 |
| Read the level: 1 to 5 low, 6 to 14 medium, 15 or more high | 10 is between 6 and 14 | Medium |
| Second risk: data stolen. Likelihood 3, seriousness 5 | 3 times 5 | 15, so High |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
The risk grid: likelihood times seriousness
| Likelihood (down) and seriousness (across) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 very unlikely | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 2 unlikely | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| 3 possible | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| 4 likely | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
| 5 very likely | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Quick check: read the grid
Have a go
Quick check: read the grid
4 questionsHave a go: your answers are marked here and then forgotten. Sign in if you would like your score kept, and to pick up where you left off.Sign in to keep your score
Your answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.