Risk management in a multi-project environment An approach to manage portfolio risks

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to identify differences in managing a single project compared with that of a project portfolio, where focus and requirements are expanded, and where clear links to organizational objectives exist. Further, the aim is to propose a methodology for the management of risk within the context of a project portfolio. Design/methodology/approach - The concepts and framework described in this paper have emerged primarily from an in-depth action research study in a major provider of transport solutions. The work has been conducted within one division, with presence in most of mainland Europe, Scandinavia, and the UK. Findings - The paper finds that the proposed methodology would manage portfolio risk in two ways. First, it provides a means for single projects to gain experiences from other projects within the portfolio. Second, portfolio common risks and trends of issues can be identified. Such risks can become risks for succeeding projects, or require action from outside the single project. Research limitations/implications - The paper shows that the pilot study consisted of 16 projects within one project portfolio. Other project portfolios, with other prerequisites, might result in different findings, since some factors not included in this research such as cultural aspects or organizational factors could affect the findings. Practical implications - In this paper the identification and analysis of commonalities and risk trends between projects provide the possibility to manage risks from a portfolio perspective. Originality/value - The paper sees that existing risk management processes do not support projects in managing risk within a project portfolio. Instead, the proposed methodology provides the project portfolio manager with a consolidated view of the total risk exposure within the portfolio. Additionally, this methodology finds risks and trends not otherwise possible to identify.