A reassessment of risk management in software projects

Abstract

In software projects, risk management has long been recognized as the junior partner to project management in improving performance outcomes. This chapter reassesses fundamental aspects of software project risk management to highlight what we currently know from empirical research and uncover opportunities for improvement. The chapter considers evidence of the relationship between risk management and project performance; the adoption of risk management in practice, and barriers and enablers to risk management in practice. It then introduces six risk management perspectives and their related schools of thought as a basis for framing future research opportunities. It concludes with a consideration of implications for future research.