Communicating Risk in Managing Projects

By Carla van Straten - 1382 views
We know that an informed client is a satisfied client. It is hardly necessary for me to stress the importance of clear and effective communication between the client and supplier during the course of completing a project. However, the one thing that we forget to do, and are maybe even resistant towards doing, is communicating possible risk factors to clients.


“We might miss the deadline…”

The one most common risk is the chance that a fixed deadline won’t be met. Circumstances, from both the supplier’s and the client’s side, may delay the project. Experience in conducting a specific project may give the supplier the ability to determine accurate time estimates and manage the process accordingly; still - every project could hold unforeseen challenges.

“We would rather have you be informed than unpleasantly surprised…”

You may ask why it is necessary to tell a client about all the possible things that could go wrong when the chances of things going wrong are slim. My answer, in short, would be that the lack of communicating risk could cause uninformed assumptions in a client, which could lead to unpleasant surprises and eventually, disappointment and resentment.

“We prefer to keep everything above the table…”

The collective social mentality that arrived as a result of the “information age”, empty promises, up-talk, bluffs and white lies are unacceptable. The pendulum is making its way to the opposite extreme and we are, thankfully, in a time where accurate information supplied in humble honesty is best practice.  

For Example: A bottle of medication sold at a pharmacy will always have a leaflet explaining the possible side-effects of taking this medication. The side effects will not necessarily be similar for every user, but can be in some cases, In the case of research conducted using a sample group ten percent of the group may display certain symptoms while 90 percent of the group may not. That ten percent still means that the possible risk should be communicated to everyone. 

The exact same level of risk communication should exist in the process of seeing projects through.

“We just thought that you should be made aware…”

It is important to note that you should not be in the mind of a lawyer trying to build a case up against your client, but simply adhering to a paper trail mentality conducted in a friendly and professional manner. You are not scaring your client or creating evidence to use in a “but I told you so situation”. You are making your client aware of elements that could affect the outcome of the project so that they may make provision for the possibility thereof.

Sound Idea Digital is a full service digital marketing agency. For more information contact 012 664 4227 or email to info@soundidea.co.za

Carla van Straten is a writer for Sound Idea Digital | Carla@soundidea.co.za | www.soundidea.co.za | @SoundIdeaLMS


   

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