# Programmatic Risk Management Comprehensive Course

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/programmatic-risk-management-comprehensive-course>

## Overview

This comprehensive training course equips federal employees supporting defense acquisition programs with a practical, standards-based approach to programmatic risk management. You’ll learn to apply the DoD Risk Management Process (Plan, Identify, Analyze, Mitigate, Monitor), write clear if-then risk statements that specify causes and consequences, and use the 5x5 matrix to assess likelihood and impact across cost, schedule, and technical performance.

Participants in this full-day course learn about root cause analysis techniques, building complete mitigation plans (including milestones and success criteria), recognizing and managing opportunities, and tracking mitigation progress with risk burn-down charts—then apply everything in a team-based case study that produces risk statements, matrix results, and risk register entries.

## What you'll learn

- Apply the DoD Risk Management Process (Plan, Identify, Analyze, Mitigate, Monitor) to manage programmatic risks within defense acquisition programs.
- Develop clear, well-structured risk statements using the if-then format, including identification of risk events, consequences, and root causes.
- Assess and prioritize risks using the 5×5 Risk Matrix based on likelihood and impacts to cost, schedule, and technical performance.
- Select and implement appropriate risk handling strategies (Accept, Avoid, Transfer, Mitigate) aligned with risk appetite and available resources.
- Create, maintain, and use a Risk Register to track risks and mitigation actions throughout the program lifecycle.
- Conduct root cause analysis and develop comprehensive risk mitigation plans, including milestones, resources, success criteria, and fallback actions.
- Identify and manage opportunities (positive risks), track mitigation progress using risk burn-down charts, and collaborate effectively to document and communicate program risks.

## Curriculum

#### 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.

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $0