RAID Log Excel Template
RAID Log Excel Template
GUIDANCE NOTES:
A RAID Log is the 'bread and butter' of project managers and should be at the forefront of your mind if you are managing
RAID stands for risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies and the log for each of these areas can be found in the diffe
(tabs) of this workbook or by clicking the coloured headers above:
- Risks: uncertain events which may have an impact on the project, either positive (opportunity) or negative (threat)
- Assumptions: beliefs that are accepted as true which, if proven invalid, will have an effect on the project
- Issues: risks that have materialized or any problems incurred which impacted the project
- Dependencies: links between projects, work packages or deliverables which, if delayed, will impact the project
- keeps your project organized and on track as all information is centralized, making it easier to monitor and control proje
- makes the information easier to store and retrieve, as the different logs are combined into a single document (and is alw
option rather than keeping everything in your head!)
- gives confidence to key stakeholders that the project is being closely monitored, resulting from the visibility of informati
- brings focus, as it serve as an aide-memorie to give appropriate attention to each area, ensuring that areas that are typic
overlooked, such as assumptions, are not forgotten
- enables accountability for mitigating actions, which is where risks and issues usually fall through the cracks
- creates a sense of ownership by inviting all members of the project team to contribute with the identification of new are
concern
- useful for auditing purposes (internal or external)
- keeps your project organized and on track as all information is centralized, making it easier to monitor and control proje
- makes the information easier to store and retrieve, as the different logs are combined into a single document (and is alw
option rather than keeping everything in your head!)
- gives confidence to key stakeholders that the project is being closely monitored, resulting from the visibility of informati
- brings focus, as it serve as an aide-memorie to give appropriate attention to each area, ensuring that areas that are typic
overlooked, such as assumptions, are not forgotten
- enables accountability for mitigating actions, which is where risks and issues usually fall through the cracks
- creates a sense of ownership by inviting all members of the project team to contribute with the identification of new are
concern
- useful for auditing purposes (internal or external)
- the RAID Log is a living document, and should not be something that you use in the beginning of the project and then sto
should be continually updated as changes occur or more information is gained
- put the "RAID Log Update" as an item of your project meetings agenda and go through it with your team
- make the RAID Log easily available in a central location so that it can be used collaboratively by all key stakeholders (unl
something confidential or sensitive information on it, of course!)
- identifying risks and issues without also identifying actions to mitigate them, or making decisions to resolve them will no
use. Identifying actions is as important as identyfing problems!
- the project manager or the sponsor are usually accountable for removing obstacles to the project but that does not mea
should be responsible for carrying out all the actions themselves. Distribute responsibilities amongst the team and design
experts - accountability and responsibility are two different concepts
- remember that assumptions and dependencies are as important (and dangerous) as risks and issues.
- be ready to accept that your assumptions may be wrong. However, it's better to log a wrong assumption and actively te
sorted it out than to believe that all your assumptions are correct and do not log them just to realize, usually too late, tha
have challenged them before
- it's not just important to log the right risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies, you also need to log them at the righ
detail: too many and too much detail makes you loose sight of what real matters and is impractical to manage; to few and
detail does not offer the granularity needed to assign responsibilities or assess progress. This is a difficult one but you nee
balance
- finally, remember that good project management is not about the absence of risks and issues (if you found a project tha
have any risks or issues, please share your secret!) but about how well you manage them. And that's where this RAID Log
Y
Dependencies
0
ACTIVE DEPENDENCIES
High 0
Medium 0
Low 0
Circulation
Please complete>
nd issues.
g assumption and actively test it and
o realize, usually too late, that you should
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
R6
R7
R8
R9
R10
PROJECT RISK LOG
GUIDANCE NOTES:
Risks are a combination of probability and impact, which will result in a certain score for the project and r
escalation. Each risk should be clearly described, identifying its potential effect on the project, who is acco
employed to mitigate it. Risks should be part of the agenda of every team meeting.
Date of Last
Risk Status Last Update / Comment Update
PROJEC
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
A10
PROJECT ASSUMPTIONS LOG
GUIDANCE NOTES:
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain'
project getting into avoidable trouble, all assumptions should be recorded in the Assumptions Lo
importantly, how will it be tested if the assumption is actually valid or not.
Date of Last
Last Update / Comment Update
PROJECT ISSUES LOG
Date Identified by
ID Identified (author) Issue Description Priority
I1
I2
I3
I4
I5
I6
I7
I8
I9
I10
PROJECT ISSUES LOG
GUIDANCE NOTES:
While issue management is, by definition, a reactive endeavour, it is still important that issues are resolved as
soon as possible in the project, by identifying the necessary action that could remove obstacles to the project's
success.
Date of Last
Update
PROJECT DE
Date Identified by
ID Identified (author) Dependency Description
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
D7
D8
D9
D10
PROJECT DEPENDENCIES LOG
GUIDANCE NOTES:
It is useful to record dependencies in a separate log to allow for a greater level of focus contr
should refer both to receiving products (inbound) and to dependencies towards other projec
appropriate, dependencies can also be added in project schedules (e.g. MS Project).
Date of Last
Last Update / Comment Update