A risk might happen. A dependency must happen first.

A risk is something uncertain that could hurt delivery, so the team watches it and plans a response. A dependency is a piece of work another team has to finish before yours can start. Handle each with a named role and a next review point.

The examples are authored for the sample Northstar move and are not pulled from a risk system.

One of each, side by side

Risk: late room-layout confirmation

Departments might not confirm meeting-room needs by Week 3, which would delay the floor plan.

  • Consequence: Week 4 plan approval slips
  • Response: the Project Lead sends a reminder at Week 2
  • Role: Department Move Coordinators

Dependency: facilities approval of the floor plan

IT cannot order switches and desk phones until Facilities approves where desks and rooms go.

  • Consequence: Week 6 order cannot be placed
  • Needed by: end of Week 4
  • Role: Workplace Facilities Manager

Which is it?

Ask: is this certain to be needed, and does another team own it? If yes, it is a dependency. If it might occur, it is a risk. If both apply, record the dependency and add the risk that it slips.

Sample register

Illustrative entries, with no status shown. Current status sits in the project's work tracker.

Item If it slips Next review Role
Dependency: floor plan approved Equipment order waits Thursday check-in, Week 3 Workplace Facilities Manager
Dependency: Floor 2 network tested Phase 1 move cannot start Week 8 check-in IT Service Owner
Risk: late room-layout confirmation Plan approval slips a week Week 2 reminder Project Lead
Risk: supplier delivery after Week 7 Phase 1 date reconsidered Week 6 check-in IT Service Owner

When something changes

  1. 1

    Describe the change in a sentence

    What is different, since when, and what you expect to happen next.

  2. 2

    Name the affected milestone

    Use the Waits for column on the Milestones page to find it.

  3. 3

    Tell the coordinating role

    Message the Project Lead, and the workstream owner if the item sits in their area.

  4. 4

    Record it in the project system

    The owner updates the work tracker. A recorded decision may then need revisiting on the Decisions page.