When facing resistance from team members, the risk manager should engage in open communication to address their concerns and clarify the importance of risk management in the project.
According to the PMBOK Guide, 6th edition, Chapter 11: Project Risk Management1, the risk manager should handle this situation by meeting with team members to address their concerns. This is because:
Resistance to risk management is a common challenge that can hinder the effectiveness and efficiency of the risk management process. Resistance can stem from various factors, such as lack of awareness, understanding, commitment, trust, or support for risk management; fear of negative consequences or blame; competing priorities or interests; or cultural differences or biases.
Meeting with team members to address their concerns is a proactive and constructive way to overcome resistance and foster a positive risk culture within the project. By meeting with team members, the risk manager can:
Communicate the value and benefits of risk management for the project and the organization, such as improving decision-making, enhancing performance, increasing stakeholder satisfaction, and reducing uncertainty and variability.
Educate and train team members on the risk management principles, processes, tools, and techniques, and how they can be applied to the project context and objectives.
Involve and empower team members in the risk management activities, such as identifying, analyzing, prioritizing, responding, and monitoring risks, and solicit their feedback and suggestions for improvement.
Recognize and reward team members for their contributions and achievements in risk management, and celebrate the successful outcomes and opportunities realized by the project.
The other options are not effective in handling this situation because:
Continuing to implement the risk strategy without addressing the resistance can lead to further conflict, resentment, and distrust among the team members, and undermine the quality and credibility of the risk management process and outputs.
Reducing the number of risk management activities can compromise the project’s ability to identify and respond to the risks that may affect its scope, schedule, cost, quality, or other objectives, and expose the project to unnecessary threats or missed opportunities.
Raising the concerns with the project sponsor can escalate the issue and create a negative impression of the team members, and may not resolve the underlying causes of the resistance or improve the team’s engagement and commitment to risk management.
PMBOK Guide, 6th edition, Chapter 11: Project Risk Management1
Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)® Exam Cert Guide2
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