100 Common Risks for Business Analysts | Free Risk Tracker

Many of my learned BAs will jump to the conclusion that this is a futile exercise and hence not necessary.

Clients, projects, and teams vary widely, therefore there is no way that one can get a comprehensive risk list. 

What's the point in trying to develop such a checklist?

To all those, I ask, "Why should we wear a seat-belt when there are hundreds of risks one faces while driving?"

We possibly can't manage all risks, but some risks can actually be predicted and hence better managed.

Some of the major business analysis risks that I have come across in my career as a BA are:

(These are not in the order of priority- We can do that later).

1. Lack of stakeholder engagement

2. Uncontrolled changes

3. Assumptions about language, currency, time zones

4. Implicit requirements

5. Inadequate planning

6. Incomplete stakeholder list

7. Silent stakeholders

8. Incomplete non-functional requirements

9. Stakeholder dis-agreement on requirements

10. Lack of adequate details in requirements

11. Stakeholder dis-agreement on priorities

12. Non-availability of stakeholders

13. Regulatory changes

14. Changing scope

15. Lack of adequate time for business analysis

16. Lack of BA domain knowledge

17. Stakeholders pushing through requirements

18. Delay in stakeholder acceptance

19. Lack of stakeholder domain knowledge

20. Stakeholder conflicts

Fellow business analysts, I invite you to add to the above list. If together, we can come up with 100 common risks, it will be a great value for the entire BA community.

About me

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Suggested reading-

Should BAs encourage requirements churn?

How to manage negative stakeholders? (Sorry you can't shoot them)