PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
A project is in the planning phase. The team has identified 50 risks. The project manager wants to prioritize risks for further analysis. Which tool or technique is BEST suited for this?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the risk register (a list of risks) with the tool used to prioritize them, or they mistakenly think SWOT analysis or decision tree analysis are appropriate for initial prioritization when they serve different purposes in the risk management process.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Probability and impact matrix
The probability and impact matrix is the best tool for prioritizing risks because it combines the likelihood of each risk occurring with its potential impact on project objectives, allowing the project manager to rank risks by their overall severity. This prioritization is essential during the planning phase to focus further qualitative or quantitative analysis on the most critical risks.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Risk register
Why it's wrong here
The risk register is a comprehensive document that records all identified risks, their characteristics, and planned responses throughout the project lifecycle. While it contains vital information about risks, its primary purpose is documentation and tracking, serving as an output of risk analysis processes. It does not, however, function as the analytical tool itself for initially assessing and ranking risks by their relative importance or urgency.
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SWOT analysis
Why it's wrong here
SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis is a strategic planning tool primarily used for identifying internal and external factors that can impact a project or organization. While 'Threats' can reveal potential risks, SWOT's function is broad identification and strategic insight. It is not designed for the systematic evaluation and ranking of identified risks based on their likelihood and potential impact to determine their priority for response planning.
- ✗
Decision tree analysis
Why it's wrong here
Decision tree analysis is a quantitative risk analysis technique used to evaluate different decision paths under conditions of uncertainty, typically involving future events or choices. It helps in calculating the expected monetary value (EMV) of various alternatives to make an optimal decision. This technique focuses on decision-making under risk and evaluating options, rather than systematically ranking a list of individual risks based on their probability and impact to determine which ones require immediate attention.
- ✓
Probability and impact matrix
Why this is correct
The probability and impact matrix is a key tool in qualitative risk analysis, specifically designed to prioritize individual project risks for further analysis or response planning. It systematically categorizes risks based on their assessed likelihood of occurrence and the potential severity of their impact on project objectives if they do occur. This visual grid allows the project team to quickly identify high-priority risks (e.g., high probability, high impact) that warrant immediate attention and detailed response strategies.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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