Understanding this concept (Assumptions vs Risks vs Issues in Project Management) helps project teams identify problems early, take preventive action, and reduce delivery impact.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n
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1. Assumption<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAn assumption is something the project believes to be true but has not yet fully confirmed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Example: <\/strong>Security clearance approvals will be completed within two weeks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAt this stage, there is no known problem. The project is relying on the approval timeline as a planning condition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The assumption should remain valid only while there is reasonable evidence that the timeline can still be achieved.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
2. Risk<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nA risk exists when there is credible uncertainty that could affect the project in the future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Example: <\/strong>Security clearance approvals may take longer than planned.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe assumption may become a risk when:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n- Required documents have not yet been submitted<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The approving authority requests additional information<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Similar approvals are taking longer than expected<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- One week has passed without any progress update<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The remaining approval window is becoming too short<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The delay has not yet occurred, but there is now enough evidence to question the original assumption.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
3. Issue<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAn issue is a problem that has already occurred and is affecting project delivery.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Example:\u00a0<\/strong>Security clearance approvals are delayed by three weeks, and vendor onboarding cannot start.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe uncertainty is gone. The impact is real.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The project now requires an issue-resolution plan, a revised delivery approach, or both.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
4. Escalation<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nEscalation is not another RAID category.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
It is a management action taken when the project team cannot resolve an issue using its existing authority.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Example: <\/strong>Sponsor intervention is required to accelerate the security approvals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nEscalation may be required when:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
At this stage, there is no known problem. The project is relying on the approval timeline as a planning condition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The assumption should remain valid only while there is reasonable evidence that the timeline can still be achieved.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
2. Risk<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nA risk exists when there is credible uncertainty that could affect the project in the future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Example: <\/strong>Security clearance approvals may take longer than planned.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe assumption may become a risk when:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n- Required documents have not yet been submitted<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The approving authority requests additional information<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Similar approvals are taking longer than expected<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- One week has passed without any progress update<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The remaining approval window is becoming too short<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The delay has not yet occurred, but there is now enough evidence to question the original assumption.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
3. Issue<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAn issue is a problem that has already occurred and is affecting project delivery.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Example:\u00a0<\/strong>Security clearance approvals are delayed by three weeks, and vendor onboarding cannot start.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe uncertainty is gone. The impact is real.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The project now requires an issue-resolution plan, a revised delivery approach, or both.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
4. Escalation<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nEscalation is not another RAID category.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
It is a management action taken when the project team cannot resolve an issue using its existing authority.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Example: <\/strong>Sponsor intervention is required to accelerate the security approvals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nEscalation may be required when:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The assumption may become a risk when:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\n
- Required documents have not yet been submitted<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The approving authority requests additional information<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- Similar approvals are taking longer than expected<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- One week has passed without any progress update<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
- The remaining approval window is becoming too short<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The delay has not yet occurred, but there is now enough evidence to question the original assumption.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
3. Issue<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
An issue is a problem that has already occurred and is affecting project delivery.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Example:\u00a0<\/strong>Security clearance approvals are delayed by three weeks, and vendor onboarding cannot start.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The uncertainty is gone. The impact is real.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The project now requires an issue-resolution plan, a revised delivery approach, or both.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
4. Escalation<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Escalation is not another RAID category.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
It is a management action taken when the project team cannot resolve an issue using its existing authority.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Example: <\/strong>Sponsor intervention is required to accelerate the security approvals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Escalation may be required when:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n