2.1.4 Principles 10-12: Risk, Adaptability, Change Enablement
The final set of principles addresses optimizing risk responses, embracing adaptability, and enabling successful change.
10. Optimize Risk Responses
- Definition: Proactively and continuously identify, analyze, prioritize, and respond to both threats (negative risks) and opportunities (positive risks).
- First-Principle Rationale ("Why"): Managing uncertainty proactively increases the likelihood of success and value realization while minimizing negative impacts.
- Practical Application: Conducting regular risk reviews, maintaining a risk register or risk-adjusted backlog, implementing appropriate response strategies, using contingency reserves, prioritizing risks, identifying risks early. See Section 3.4.
11. Embrace Adaptability and Resiliency
- Definition: Build the capacity to anticipate, respond to, and absorb change and setbacks effectively.
- First-Principle Rationale ("Why"): Change is constant in project environments; adaptability and resiliency enable projects to stay aligned with value delivery despite disruptions.
- Practical Application: Using adaptive lifecycles, fostering a resilient team culture through psychological safety and empowerment, having contingency plans, learning from failures, welcoming changing requirements. Be prepared to pivot.
12. Enable Change to Achieve the Envisioned Future State
- Definition: Recognize that projects are change initiatives and actively manage the human and organizational transition aspects.
- First-Principle Rationale ("Why"): Realizing project benefits often depends on stakeholders adopting the change; managing this transition is crucial for success.
- Practical Application: Using organizational change management models, communicating the vision and benefits clearly, providing training and support, addressing resistance constructively. Project success includes adoption.