===========================================================
FREE Trial: Mr. H. Audio Series
How to profit with a direct sales web site. Find out more about Mr. H.
===========================================================

Table of Contents

1. Editor's Musings
2. Managing Project Risks and Issues By David Viney
3. Recommended
4. Internet Sites Reviewed
5. Freebies and Other Good Deals
6. Joke of the Week

1. Editor's Musings

Valentine's Day is passed, February is marching on, and its decidedly spring in Vancouver. The crocuses are up full force, flowering trees are beginning to bug and the sun is shining. It makes me remember why I moved here 15 or so years ago.

2.Article: Managing Project Risks and Issues By David Viney

Inherent Risk is the risk that exists in the environment around your portal project. It will tend to be unique to your organisation; it's culture and politics. For example, if you have a fragmented business (either geographical or functional), then this will create a higher inherent risk of poor communication.

Project Risk is the risk specific to your project. Some Project Risk stems from the nature of what you are doing; there are certain risks common to any project (e.g. the unfamiliarity to users of the technology you are deploying). However, most project risk is under your direct influence; for example the skills of the project team, the level of governance effectiveness and so on.

Finally, there is 'stage risk' which is the risk associated with the particular activity of any given phase of the project plan.

In order to stay in control of the risks to your portal project, it makes sense to have a formal log of all risks, to which anyone involved with the project is entitled to add. You might use a formal workshop to first populate the log

Each risk (however derived) can be assessed using a simple methodology, whereby the probability of the risk being realised ('likelihood') and the size of the impact on the project objectives ('severity') can be measured.

The simplest system (based on the PRINCE project management method) is to give a score of 1-3 for likelihood and severity (where 1 is low and 3 is high). From these scores, the importance of each risk can be measured as the product of likelihood and severity.

Clearly, any risk of importance 9 demands immediate attention, followed by risks rated 6 and so on.

The importance of each risk should be regularly maintained, based on the extent to which the likelihood and severity of impact change over time.

For each risk, one should enter a counter-measure in the risk plan. Where a risk can be eliminated, then this will be the counter- measure. Where it cannot be fully eliminated, then risk mitigation actions will be the most appropriate.

A Risk is something that is yet to happen, whilst an Issue is something that has already happened. It may well be convenient to use the Risk Log to also track any issues on the project. Issues will generally fall into one of the following categories:

(R) - Request for a change (in the scope of the project);
(O) - An item has been identified that is Off-Specification;
(Q) - A Question has been raised that needs to be resolved;
(S) - A Statement of Concern has been raised by someone; and
(I) - Other issues.

To score issues, just ascribe an importance score (of between 1 and 9).

Once you have put a Plan in place, then it is important to regularly monitor and report on the counter-measures that have been deployed and whether or not they have been successful in reducing the overall risk profile of the project.

For templates and examples of risks and issues pertinent to intranet portal deployment projects, please check out my chapter on Managing Risks and Issues in the (free to access) Intranet Portal Guide.

If you act, manage and report regularly on risks and issues, you will have substantially improved your chances of project success!

David Viney (david@viney.com) is the author of the Intranet Portal Guide; 31 pages of advice, tools and downloads covering the period before, during and after an Intranet Portal implementation.
Read the guide at http://www.viney .com/DFV/intranet_portal_guide or the Intranet Watch Blog at http://www.viney.com/intran et_watch.

3. Product Recommendation: *** Freelance Data Base ***

This database connects freelancers (oops, I mean independent professionals) with work opportunities. I'm not talking about the trashy "stuff envelopes" stuff that crosses our paths daily. I'm talking about opportunities that might lead to giving up your day job. Categories include: writing and editing jobs
web design and development projects
medical and legal transcription jobs Internet research and email support work
data entry and administration jobs
programming and technical projects
graphic design and illustration jobs

A week's trial membership is only $2.95. You don't have much to lose, but if working from home is your dream, you have a lot to gain.

Freelance Work Exchange: Find thousands of freelance and work-at-home jobs. Click here to start today

4. Internet Sites -- reviewed by June Campbell

*** PC Amber Alerts***
Sign up to have Amber Alerts sent directly to your computer.

*** The Flight of the Creative Class: The New Global Competition for Talent (video)***
Upcoming video interview on March 3.

*** Business Blogs
Article, info and links to more info about business blogs.

*** Blogger.com
Get your own free blog.

5. Freebies and Good Deals

a. Receive 250 Business Cards, Absolutely FREE! You pay only shipping and handling.Visit this link for additional information.

b. Did you know that subscribers to Bob Osgoodby's Free Ezine "Tip of the Day" get a Free Ad for their Business on his Web Page? Subscribe at: adv-marketing.com Great Business and Computer Tips - Monday thru Friday Instructions to place your ad are in the Newsletter.

6. Joke of the Week: Say It With Flowers

When some friars fell behind on their belfry payments, they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. A rival florist thought the competition was unfair. He asked the good fathers several times to close down, but they would not. So, the rival florist hired Hugh, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to "persuade" them to close. Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he'd be back if they didn't close up shop.

The terrified fathers closed shop, thereby proving that only Hugh can prevent florist friars.

To subscribe to this newsletter, visit this link.

"How to Booklets"-- topics include business proposal writing, business plan writing, brochure writing,an independent contractor's agreement, a sample joint venture agreement and more. Click www.nightcats.com