ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.—John F. Kennedy (1917–1963)

We first met in 1985 at a conference for users of risk software, and since then risk management has formed an important part of our professional relationship. So it seemed obvious for us to write a book together, outlining our shared insights and approach to risk management on projects. As practitioners, it was natural for us to concentrate on practical guidelines outlining how to do it, especially since there are so few other books offering practical guidelines.

The risk process described in this book draws on our many years of experience and is honed through both failure and success. Along the way, we have learned much from each other, as well as from colleagues, competitors, and clients, that has shaped the way we now think and act. Some of these people have shown the way through their good practice, while others have shown us what not to do. To each we are grateful, though they are too many to mention individually.

Some do deserve special mention. Particular individuals in the UK Association for Project Management (APM) Risk Specific Interest Group (SIG) and the Project Management Institute (PMI) Risk SIG and Risk Community of Practice have helped us to develop our understanding and practice, notably Philip Rawlings, Steve Grey, John Perry, David Vose, David Hulett, and Kik Piney. Among key clients, Roy Millard, Renata Crome, Andy Sallis, and Frank Millar provided early opportunities to implement and prove our approach. Our mutual friend and colleague Ruth Murray-Webster has provided consistent encouragement and support and helped us to refine our thinking. Steve Charters has worked with us and some of our clients to implement the ATOM approach in practice, and his practical suggestions have improved the methodology. We would also like to thank the team at Management Concepts for their initial encouragement to write the first edition, and their continued enthusiasm for this second edition.

Since the first edition of this book was published, several major businesses have implemented the ATOM approach in order to manage risk in their projects. In addition, the ATOM book has been adopted as a teaching resource by a number of academic institutions. We are grateful to these organizations for demonstrating their confidence in ATOM, and for providing their detailed feedback on its practical use, some of which is reflected in this second edition.

The approach to project risk management described here is our own, and we know it works. The period between first and second editions of this book has only served to reinforce our conviction that this simple, scaleable methodology adds significant value to those organizations that use it. We remain responsible for any flaws or shortcomings in the ATOM methodology or this book, and we welcome feedback from readers at contact@ATOM-risk.com.