Five Core Risks

In WaltzingWithBears, TomDeMarco and TimothyLister identify the five most common software project risks in their experience.

They are:

inherent schedule flaw

that some flaw in the schedule setting practice will result in an agreement to work to an unreachable goal

FeatureCreep

that changes and additions to the requirements will push the project over budget and schedule

employee turnover

that key staff leaving the company during the project will push up the budget and project duration

ambiguous specification

that a breakdown in communication at the specification stage leads to an ambiguous and unsuitable contract

poor productivity

that a failure to accurately estimate a team's performance will lead to project overrun

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See RiskManagement