How often have you heard someone say, "Wow! I didn't see that coming!"? Project failure is frequently attributed to unforeseen circumstances (risks) that emerge during the different phases of a project. Though project managers may be unable to fully anticipate all risks, they can make provisions for addressing potential risks that may arise in later phases of a project. It is essential to continually weigh and mitigate risks. But what about cases in which risk is deliberately increased to reach a desired outcome?

In this Discussion, you consider a scenario in which these questions arise. Based on the scenario, you generate strategies for mitigating potential project risks.

To prepare, consider the following scenario:

You are on the project team for an IT project that must be completed on time to coincide with the opening of a new hospital wing that will rely in part on this technology. You learn that the project manager has been ordering shortcuts on testing to meet the deadline. You can see that these actions keep the project on schedule and the product seems to work well, but you are concerned about the additional risk caused by the shortcuts. Do you intervene?

how you would respond to the situation described in the scenario. Identify potential risks to the project if you do or do not take action. Explain strategies you might use to mitigate the risks you identified. Is it ever beneficial to accept or increase risks in order to meet project goals? Justify your response.