AY0809 October Semester

IT Project Management

Tutorial 8: Planning Processes – Project Communications Management
                                                             Project Risk Management

Objectives:
1. Describe project communications management planning tasks and outputs
2. Explain project risk management planning tasks and outputs

Students are encouraged to prepare their draft answer before class, as this will help 
them to discuss the questions and answers during the tutorial session.

1. Using the template below, describe the key planning processes and outputs of 
these processes for the project management knowledge areas indicated.

KNOWLEDGE  PLANNING OUTPUT

AREA
Project  • Communications  • Communication management plan
Communications  planning
Management
Project Risk  • Risk  • Risk management plan
Management management 
planning

• Risk  • Risk register
identification

• Qualitative risk 
analysis

• Quantitative risk

• Risk response 
planning

2. What items should a communications management plan address? How can a 
stakeholder analysis assist in preparing and implementing parts of this plan?

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A project communications plan should address the following:
 Who will receive the information and who will produce it
 Suggested methods or technologies for conveying the information
 Frequency of communication
 Escalation procedures for revolving issues
 Revision procedures for updating the communications management plan
 A glossary of common technology

It is important to know what kinds of information will be distributed to which 
stakeholders. By analyzing the stakeholders, the project manage can avoid wasting 
time or resources on creating or disseminating unnecessary information.

3.  What are some questions that should be addressed in a risk management plan? 

A risk management plan documents the procedures for managing risk throughout the
project and address the following:

Methodology How will risk management be performed on the project?

What tools and data sources are available and applicable?

Roles and Who are responsible for implementing specific tasks and
Responsibilities providing deliverables related to risk management?

Budget and schedule What are the estimated costs and schedules for performing
risk related activities

Risk categories What are the main categories of risk that should be addressed
on the project?

Risk probability How will the probabilities and impacts of risk items be
assessed?

What scoring and interpretation methods will be used for the

qualitative and quantitative analysis of risks?

Risk documentation What reporting formats and processes will be used for risk
management activities

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3. Match the potential negative risk conditions to the appropriate project 
management knowledge area. 
4.
KNOWLEDGE AREA RISK CONDITIONS
A Integration management 1 Poor attitude towards quality;   A5
substandard 
design/materials/workmanship; 
inadequate quality assurance program
B Scope management 2 Estimating errors; inadequate   B6
productivity, cost, change or contingency
C Time management 3 Unenforceable conditions or contract   C9
clauses; adversarial relations
D Cost management 4 Carelessness in planning or   D2
communicating; lack of consultation 
with key stakeholders
E Quality management 5 Inadequate planning; poor resource   E1
allocation; poor integration 
management; lack of post­project review
F Human resource  6 Poor definition of scope or work   F8
management packages; incomplete definition
G Communications  7  Ignoring risk; unclear analysis of risk;   G4
management poor insurance management
H Risk management 8 Poor conflict management; poor project   H7
organisation and definition of 
responsibilities; absence of leadership
I Procurement management 9 Errors in estimating time or resource   I3
availability; errors in determining the 
critical path; poor allocation and 
management of float; early release of 
competitive products

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