
What is the probability and impact matrix?
- What the Impact Matrix is
- How to use it
- Some examples
- What is good about it
- Some things to watch out for
What is probability and impact matrix?
The Probability and Impact Matrix is one the most commonly used qualitative assessment method. It is based on the two components of risk, probability of occurrence and the impact on objective(s) if it occurs. The matrix is a two-dimensional grid that maps the likelihood of the risks occurrence and their effect on the project objectives [5].
How to learn risk impact and Probability Chart?
- List all of the likely risks that your project faces. Make the list as comprehensive as possible.
- Assess the probability of each risk occurring, and assign it a rating. ...
- Estimate the impact on the project if the risk occurs. ...
- Map out the ratings on the Risk Impact/Probability Chart.
- Develop a response to each risk, according to its position in the chart. ...
How to calculate the impact and probability of business risk?
Risk Calculation Algorithm
- Risk types. ...
- Inherent Risk = Impact * Likelihood. ...
- Inherit risk calculation use case. ...
- Current risk = Inherent risk - sum (controls risk reduction) + risk increment. ...
- Projected risk = Inherent risk - sum (all controls risk reduction) The projected risk is our goal risk the one we will achieve once we get to correctly implement all ...

What is probability and impact matrix in PMP?
Specifically, the concept of the probability and impact matrix refers to instances in which the project management team and or the project management team leader determines that there is a certain element of risk involved in one or more phases of a project or of an activity that is a part of the project as a whole.
What is impact in risk?
Risk impact is an estimate of the potential losses associated with an identified risk. It is a standard risk analysis practice to develop an estimate of probability and impact.
What is impact in risk assessment?
Share. Definition: Risk impact assessment is the process of assessing the probabilities and consequences of risk events if they are realized. The results of this assessment are then used to prioritize risks to establish a most-to-least-critical importance ranking.
What is the importance of probability and impact matrix?
The probability and impact matrix is used because it allows you to merge both of these components onto the same scale. The matrix is used to review both sets of criteria at the same time.
Are risk and probability the same?
“Risk” refers to the probability of occurrence of an event or outcome. Statistically, risk = chance of the outcome of interest/all possible outcomes. The term “odds” is often used instead of risk. “Odds” refers to the probability of occurrence of an event/probability of the event not occurring.
What is the difference between risk probability and risk impact?
Risk probability is the chance of a risk occurring. Risk impact is the cost of a risk if it does occur.
What is meant by impact assessment?
Impact Assessment is a means of measuring the effectiveness of organisational activities and judging the significance of changes brought about by those activities. It is neither Art or Science, but both. Impact assessment is intimately linked to Mission, and, in that sense, ripples through the organisation.
How do you quantify risks based on impact and probability?
Assess the probability of each risk occurring, and assign it a rating. For example, you could use a scale of 1 to 10. Assign a score of 1 when a risk is extremely unlikely to occur, and use a score of 10 when the risk is extremely likely to occur. Estimate the impact on the project if the risk occurs.
How do you find the probability of a risk?
The formulation "risk = probability (of a disruption event) x loss (connected to the event occurrence)" is a measure of the expected loss connected with something (i.e., a process, a production activity, an investment...) subject to the occurrence of the considered disruption event. It is a way to quantify risks.
Which is more important probability or impact?
Impact and probability are the two main components of Risk analysis. Looking at impact versus probability is common in order to categorize and prioritize risks as some risks may have a severe impact on projects objectives but only happen on rare occasions, while other have a moderate impact but occur more frequently.
What is probability impact grid?
The Probability Impact Matrix is a tool that uses the agreed impact and probability values to categorise and determine the priority of a risk. Home. Information hub.
What does low probability high impact events mean?
High-Impact-Low-Probability (HILP) An event that is not likely to occur -- it has a low Probability of Failure (PoF) -- but it will have significant Consequences of Failure (CoF) for the organization.
What is impact versus probability?
Impact and probability are the two main components of Risk analysis. Looking at impact versus probability is common in order to categorize and prioritize risks as some risks may have a severe impact on projects objectives but only happen on rare occasions, while other have a moderate impact but occur more frequently.
What is the impact of probability assessment?
The probability assessment involves estimating the likelihood of a risk occurring. The impact assessment estimates the effects of a risk event on a project objective. These impacts can be both positive and negative; i.e., opportunities and threats.
What is risk probability?
Risk probability, or likelihood, is the possibility of a risk event occurring. The likelihood can be expressed in both a qualitative and quantitative manner. When discussing probability in a qualitative manner, terms such as frequent, possible, rare etc. are used.
What is high impact risk?
High impact – High probability: The risks that are characterized as high risks have both a high impact and likelihood of occurrence. A risk which has a negative impact, is a threat to the objective, may need priority actions and aggressive responses.
Why is risk management important?
Therefore, Risk Management is an important part of any organization as proper management increases the likelihood for the success of a project . Risk management involves identifying possible risks and analyzing their potential in order to respond to and control the projects most significant threats and opportunities .
What is impact in project management?
Impact. Impacts are often defined as the consequences, or effects of a risk event on the project objectives . These impacts can be both beneficial or harmful to the objectives . The impact of risk events on different project objectives can be defined in both a qualitative and quantitative manner.
What is risk analysis?
The risk analysis is a two-stage assessment process. Initially, qualitative methods are used to examine, categorize and determine the main risk events identified, which are relevant for a more detailed quantitative assessment. In risk analysis, risk is traditionally defined as a function of probability and impact .
How do you Analyse risk?
How to Use Risk Analysis Identify Threats. The first step in Risk Analysis is to identify the existing and possible threats that you might face. Estimate Risk. Once you've identified the threats you're facing, you need to calculate out both the likelihood of these threats being realized, and their possible impact.
What are risk responses?
Risk response is the process of controlling identified risks. It is a basic step in any risk management process. Risk response is a planning and decision making process whereby stakeholders decide how to deal with each risk.
What is impact in risk management?
Share. Definition: Risk impact assessment is the process of assessing the probabilities and consequences of risk events if they are realized. The results of this assessment are then used to prioritize risks to establish a most-to-least-critical importance ranking.
How do you identify risks?
Here are seven of my favorite risk identification techniques: Interviews. Select key stakeholders. Brainstorming. I will not go through the rules of brainstorming here. Checklists. Assumption Analysis. Cause and Effect Diagrams. Nominal Group Technique (NGT). Affinity Diagram.
What are different types of risks?
Within these two types, there are certain specific types of risk, which every investor must know. Credit Risk (also known as Default Risk) Country Risk. Political Risk. Reinvestment Risk. Interest Rate Risk. Foreign Exchange Risk. Inflationary Risk. Market Risk.
What are the four ways to deal with risk?
The Classic Four: Avoid, Reduce, Transfer and Retain Classic risk management as seen in Enterprise-wide Risk Management (DeLoach, 2003) acknowledges 4 ways of dealing with risk: Avoid. Reduce.
What is a risk summary?
Risk management is the process of analyzing exposure to risk and determining how to best handle such exposure. Prioritize risks based on the likelihood of occurrence and potential impact. Implement strategies to mitigate risks. Monitor effectiveness of risk management efforts.
How to solve a problem in a big picture?
Step 1: Step Back and Use Logic. First, consider your problem from a big-picture perspective. Take a few steps back, and pretend that you’re an observer who is not emotionally tied to the situation. Isolate the main problem. State it as simply as possible.
What is the difference between catastrophic and major?
Major — Risks will cause significant loss, injury, or damage. Cata strophic — Risks will cause extensive damage and long-term effect ( the highest Impact) On the bottom are the Probability factors, which is how we rate the likelihood that the event will happen.
What is low impact?
Low – typically a combination of low impact with low to medium probability. Medium – generally moderate impact and a moderate probability. High – usually high impact and high probability. Note these segmentations are subjective and are usually set by the business executing the risk assessment.
What is the matrix of risk?
The matrix assumes that risk is driven by two aspects: 1. Probability. Probability refers to the likelihood of a risk transpiring. 2. Impact. The impact of risk refers to what happens when it is realized (when it turns from a risk into an issue).
Why is quantitative risk analysis important?
Quantitative risk analysis is essential in safeguarding your projects and ensuring that they are delivered successfully.
Is impact matrix a panacea?
As with all tools, the impact matrix is not a panacea, and there are a few things to watch out for: It is only an assessment tool, and you still need to contingency plan. It does not replace your risk process, and you still need to capture and manage your risks accurately.
What is impact in a scenario?
The impact is an estimate of the harm that could be caused by an event. For example, a cyberbreach could have a catastrophic impact. Likelihood. Likelihood is how probable it is that an event will occur.
What is an inherent risk score?
Inherent risk scores represent the level of risk an institution would face if there weren’t controls to mitigate it. For example, think of the risk of a cyberattack if the institution didn’t have any defenses in place.
How to calculate residual risk?
The formula for residual risk is: Residual risk = Inherent risk * Control effectiveness. Residual risk is greatest when the inherent risk is high and the controls for mitigating the risk aren’t effective. It decreases when controls are effective.
What is risk measurement?
Risk measurement - A process to determine the likelihood of an adverse event or threat occurring and the potential impact of such an event on the institution. The result of risk measurement leads to the prioritization of potential risks based on severity and likelihood of occurrence.
What is residual risk?
Residual risk is the risk that remains after controls are taken into account. In the case of a cyber breach, it’s the risk that remains after considering deterrence measures. This score helps the organization review its risk tolerance against its strategic objectives.
Why do risk assessments require a lot of specific thought and analysis?
If risk assessments seem like they require a lot of specific thought and analysis, that’s because they do. The goal is to remove as much subjectivity from the process as possible and create quantifiable metrics.
What is risk analysis?
Risk analysis - The process of identifying risks, determining their probability and impact, and identifying areas needing safeguards. Risk assessment - A prioritization of potential business disruptions based on severity and likelihood of occurrence.
What is risk probability?
Where a risk is seen as susceptible to control, risk probability is assessed as lower than in situations where controllability or choice are absent (or perceived to be so).
What is the probability of project risk?
The first problem in assessing the probability of project risks is the term itself. “Probability” has a precise statistical meaning, for example “a measure of the relative frequency or likelihood of occurrence of an event, whose values lie between zero (impossibility) and one (certainty), derived from a theoretical distribution or from observations” (Collins 1979). However, its general usage is less clear, including its use within the risk management process. Confusion has also arisen as a result of the use of alternative terms in risk guidelines to describe the uncertainty dimension, such as “frequency”, “likelihood” or “chance”, giving the impression that these are mere synonyms for “probability” when, in fact, they are distinctly different. If the uncertainty dimension of risks is to be properly assessed and described, using the term “probability”, it is essential that assessors understand what they are trying to assess.
Why is risk probability assessment important?
Proper assessment of risk probability is however critical to the effectiveness of the risk process, for the following reasons: If risk probability assessment is faulty, the accuracy of risk prioritisation will be affected, leading to a potential failure to focus on the most significant risks.
Why are there no data from previous projects?
However even for these risks, data are often not available from previous projects due to the weakness of the project closure process in many organisations. It is widely recognised that project closure is the least well implemented of the project processes, and that many organisations do not have effective ways of learning lessons from completed projects in order to benefit future projects. Without an effective “lessons to be learned” process, each new project has to face its challenges without access to the structured experience of past projects. This affects risk management in the same way as all other elements of project management. It is rare to find an organisation which conducts post-project reviews to identify and capture risk-related lessons to feed forward to future projects. Such lessons should include which identified risks actually occurred and why, and determine whether there are there any generic risks that might affect similar projects. It should also address which identified risks did not occur and why, which responses were effective in managing risks, and which were ineffective. Without such “risk actuals” from previous projects, the task of assessing the probability of risks which recur on a later project is made more difficult.
What is project management?
A project can be defined as “a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product, service or result” (Project Management Institute 2000, p4), or as “a unique process, consisting of a set of coordinated and controlled activities with start and finish dates, undertaken to achieve an objective conforming to specific requirements, including the constraints of time, cost and resources” (British Standards Institute, 2000; British Standards Institute, 2002). It is inherent in the nature of projects for at least some aspect of the undertaking to be unique. Consequently, for significant elements of the project, there is no body of relevant previous experience on which to draw. This is particularly true of project risks, those uncertain events or conditions which if they occurred, would affect project objectives. Since the objectives of a given project are likely to be different from those of previous projects, the risks affecting a new project are also likely to be different. This means that some (many?) risks on a particular project will be unique to that project, and there will be no relevant data on their probability of occurrence.
What is project risk?
This is particularly true of project risks, those uncertain events or conditions which if they occurred, would affect project objectives. Since the objectives of a given project are likely to be different from those of previous projects, the risks affecting a new project are also likely to be different.
How to manage sources of bias?
A two-step approach is recommended for managing sources of bias when estimating uncertain situations, including assessment of risk probability. This first requires awareness of the issues, understanding sources of bias, whether they originate from perceptual factors or heuristics. Not only must these be understood in theory, but their operation in practice must be identified, drawing on previous experience wherever possible. This diagnosis allows the second step to be taken, namely action. Understanding one's preferred approach to uncertainty can open the door to managing it, reducing or removing sources of bias at both individual and group levels (Hillson & Murray-Webster, 2004).

Background
Impact
- Impacts are often defined as the consequences, or effects of a risk event on the project objectives. These impacts can be both beneficial or harmful to the objectives . The impact of risk events on different project objectives can be defined in both a qualitative and quantitative manner. These project objectives are cost, schedule, quality, scope, health, safety, etc. The Impa…
Probability
- Risk probability, or likelihood, is the possibility of a risk event occurring. The likelihood can be expressed in both a qualitative and quantitative manner. When discussing probability in a qualitative manner, terms such as frequent, possible, rare etc. are used. It is also possible to describe the probability in a numerical manner. This can be done using scores, percentages and …
Risk Assessment Methods Using Impact and Probability
- Risk analysis is a two-stage process, with qualitative assessment being the first stage. By using qualitative methods for risk assessment, the risk can be categorized for further quantitative assessment or even risk response planning. Quantitative assessment is the next stage in risk analysis. The process involves analyzing the effects of risks on ...
Limitations
- Qualitative methods are imprecise. They are just estimates and it can happen that the unlikely risks occur and the likely risks sometimes never come to pass. The quality of the information available influences the quality of the results, therefore the information must be evaluated to help determine the risks importance . When using the Probability and Impact Matrix, risk that are qua…
Annotated Bibliography
- Winch, G.M. (2010) Managing Construction Projects: An Information Processing Approach, Second Edition.Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. The book contains a description of the practice of managing risk and uncertainty in a construction project. It describes briefly the four activities of risk management process. The definitions of risk and uncertainty is described and t…
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Winch, G.M. (2010) Managing Construction Projects: An Information Processing Approach, Second Edition. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Maylor, H. (2010) Project Management, Fourth Edition. Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Curtis, P. & Carey, M. (2012) Risk As…
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Winch, G.M. (2010) Managing Construction Projects: An Information Processing Approach, Second Edition. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Maylor, H. (2010) Project Management, Fourth Edition. Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Curtis, P. & Carey, M. (2012) Risk Assessment in Practice. Deloitte & Touche LLP
- ↑ The MITRE Corporation. (2014) MITRE Systems Engineering Guide. The United States: MITRE Corporate Communications and Public Affairs