Programmatic Risk Management Comprehensive Course
IDACQI7050C

Module 1: Introduction to Programmatic Risk Management

• Define risk, issue, and opportunity in a DoD program context.
• Distinguish essential risk terms, including risk appetite vs. risk tolerance and inherent vs. residual risk.
• Explain how program risk management supports acquisition policy and federal oversight expectations.
• Identify common sources of program risks that can affect cost, schedule, and performance.

Module 2: The DoD Risk Management Process

• Describe each phase of the DoD risk management process and how the phases connect end-to-end.
• Outline how to plan a Program Risk Management Process (PRMP), including roles and responsibilities.
• Apply practical methods to identify, analyze, mitigate, and monitor risks as a continuous cycle.
• Differentiate qualitative and quantitative approaches to likelihood and consequence assessment.

Module 3: Risk Statements and the 5x5 Matrix

• Construct well-formed risk statements that include condition/event, consequence, and root cause.
• Rewrite risks using an if-then format and avoid common risk statement pitfalls.
• Plot risks on the 5x5 Risk Reporting Matrix using likelihood and consequence criteria.
• Interpret risk levels (low, moderate, high) to support prioritization and communication.

Module 4: Risk Handling and Mitigation Overview

• Distinguish among the four handling strategies: accept, avoid, transfer, and mitigate.
• Select handling approaches using factors such as risk appetite and cost-benefit considerations.
• Describe the purpose and core components of a risk mitigation plan.
• Explain how a risk register is used to document, track, and report risk actions.

Module 5: In-Depth Analysis and Root Cause Techniques

• Apply structured techniques to identify root causes and key risk drivers.
• Use tools such as fishbone diagrams, bowtie analysis, and the 5 Whys to analyze risk scenarios.
• Compare qualitative and quantitative analysis methods and when to use each.
• Translate analysis results into clearer, more actionable risk understanding.

Module 6: Developing Risk Mitigation Plans

• Build a complete risk mitigation plan that includes actions, resources, milestones, and schedules.
• Define success criteria and exit conditions to know when mitigation is working.
• Incorporate fallback or contingency provisions for high-impact risks.
• Explain how mitigation plans align with program baselines and escalation/acceptance processes.

Module 7: Opportunity Management

• Recognize opportunities as positive uncertainties in a DoD program context.
• Distinguish opportunity handling strategies (pursue, share, enhance, accept).
• Apply ROI thinking to decide which opportunities are worth pursuing.
• Describe how an opportunity register is used to document and track opportunities.

Module 8: Tracking, Reporting, and Burn-Down Charts

• Explain how risks are monitored and re-assessed over time.
• Identify common approaches to risk status reporting and update cadence.
• Interpret and create a basic risk burn-down chart using sample data.
• Connect risk tracking to program performance measures and milestone reporting.

Module 9: Hands-On Group Workshop

• Work in a team to identify risks for a realistic (notional) defense acquisition program case study.
• Write risk statements in if-then format and analyze them using the 5x5 matrix.
• Prioritize key risks and document handling approaches in a risk register template.
• Present one top risk and rationale during a short debrief discussion.