As a project manager, you need to plan for unknown issues every bit as much as known issues. While risk identification is the first step in a risk management process that most likely will continue for the entire duration of your project, you can take steps to set yourself up for success.

A successful risk identification system includes education and communication for stakeholders involved in pivotal project roles. Teaching key members of your team how to identify risks is the first step in successful risk identification. Then, training your team how to communicate those issues to the right people enables you to focus your efforts where they are needed most.

Risk identification focuses not only on issues that could negatively affect the outcome of the project. The risk identification process focuses also on information that matches your resources and capabilities to the competitive environment in which you work. Using tools that help identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing your project can help you avoid unknown issues by planning for success.

The following links take you to the tools and information you need to make the risk identification process a success.

• About risk identification (Article)
  Don't let risk keep you from a successful project.
• Goal: Identify new risks (Article)
  Learn how to recognize the risks that might undermine your project.
• Risk identification questionnaire (Template)
  Poll subject matter experts to learn where risks might occur.
• Project risk management plan (Template)
  Identify risks up front by planning for them.
• Competitive analysis using SWOT (Template)
  Measure the strengths and weaknesses of your project.