In the context of PRINCE2 7, Risk Control and Culture are interdependent concepts that determine how effectively uncertainty is managed within a project.
Risk Culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, and attitudes regarding risk within the project team and the wider organization. It dictates …In the context of PRINCE2 7, Risk Control and Culture are interdependent concepts that determine how effectively uncertainty is managed within a project.
Risk Culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, and attitudes regarding risk within the project team and the wider organization. It dictates the environment in which risk management occurs. A positive risk culture fosters transparency, encouraging team members to identify and report risks early without fear of blame. It ensures that risk management is seen as a proactive tool for success rather than a bureaucratic burden. The Risk Management Approach document must define how to nurture this culture to ensure valid data entry into the Risk Register.
Risk Control is the mechanism used to ensure that risk responses (treatments) are implemented, monitored, and effective. It involves the practical application of the risk management steps: Identify, Assess, Plan, and Implement. Control is enforced through clear roles and responsibilities—specifically the Risk Owner, who monitors the risk, and the Risk Actionee, who executes specific response actions. Furthermore, control depends on strictly defined Risk Tolerances (the allowable deviation from plan) and Risk Appetite (the amount of risk the project board is willing to accept).
Together, they function cyclically: a supportive Culture ensures that Controls are respected and utilized, while effective Controls provide the structure necessary to sustain a mature Risk Culture. For a Practitioner, applying this means ensuring that the Risk Management Approach is not just a document, but a set of behaviors that keeps risk exposure within the agreed tolerances.
Guide to Risk Control and Culture: PRINCE2 Practitioner v7
What is Risk Control and Culture? In PRINCE2 v7, the Risk practice is not merely about maintaining a spreadsheet; it is about the behavior of the people involved and the mechanisms used to ensure risks are actually managed. Risk Culture refers to the values, beliefs, and attitudes shared by the project team regarding uncertainty. It determines whether the project encourages openness or hides bad news. Risk Control refers to the ongoing process of decision-making, monitoring, and reporting to ensure that the plans to deal with risk are being executed effectively.
Why is it Important? Even the most sophisticated risk process will fail if the organization has a 'blame culture.' If team members are afraid to report risks because they fear retribution, risks will go unmanaged until they become issues. Conversely, without effective Control mechanisms (like the Risk Register and specific roles), risk management becomes a bureaucratic exercise with no impact on project success.
How it Works Risk Control and Culture function through three specific avenues in PRINCE2: 1. Explicit Definition: The Risk Management Approach must define the desired risk culture. It describes how to report risks and the threshold for escalation. 2. Role Assignment: PRINCE2 distinguishes between the Risk Owner (the person responsible for managing, monitoring, and controlling all aspects of a particular risk) and the Risk Actionee (the individual assigned to carry out a specific risk response action). 3. Communication: The Risk Register captures the data, while Risk Reports communicate the status to stakeholders, ensuring transparency.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Risk Control and Culture When facing Practitioner scenario questions, apply the following logic: 1. Identify the Behavior: Look for clues in the scenario about how people are acting. Is a Team Manager hiding a delay? This is a Culture failure. Answering questions here requires selecting actions that promote transparency and a 'no-blame' environment. 2. Distinguish Owner vs. Actionee: A common exam trap involves confusing roles. Remember: The Risk Owner is accountable for the risk's status (monitoring). The Risk Actionee does the work. If the question asks who updates the Project Manager on the success of a response, it is the Risk Owner. If it asks who buys the insurance policy, it is the Risk Actionee. 3. Check the Documents: If a risk is identified but lost later, it is a failure of Control (specifically the Risk Register). If stakeholders are unaware of the aggregate risk exposure, it is a failure of Reporting (Risk Report). 4. Tailoring: Questions may ask how to adapt controls. For agile environments, risk culture relies heavily on the 'Daily Stand-up' and information radiators rather than formal weekly reports.