1 Identify dependencies

Dependencies are the relationships between tasks, deliverables, or resources that affect the start or finish of another task, deliverable, or resource. Dependencies can be internal (within the project team) or external (involving other teams, vendors, customers, or regulators). Identifying dependencies is crucial for creating a realistic project plan, estimating durations, allocating resources, and avoiding delays or conflicts. You can use tools such as a work breakdown structure (WBS), a network diagram, or a dependency matrix to map out the dependencies and their types, such as mandatory, discretionary, external, or internal.

2 Assess risks

Risks are uncertain events or conditions that can have a positive or negative impact on the project objectives. Assessing risks involves identifying, analyzing, prioritizing, and documenting the potential risks and their sources, causes, effects, and probabilities. You can use tools such as a risk register, a risk matrix, or a SWOT analysis to capture and evaluate the risks and their characteristics. Assessing risks helps you to determine the level of exposure and uncertainty of the project, and to plan for appropriate responses and mitigation strategies.

3 Communicate changes

Changes are modifications or additions to the project scope, requirements, assumptions, or constraints that occur during the project execution. Communicating changes involves informing, consulting, and obtaining approval from the relevant stakeholders, such as the project sponsor, the project team, the customer, or the change control board. You can use tools such as a change request form, a change log, or a communication plan to document and track the changes and their impacts, reasons, and statuses. Communicating changes helps you to manage expectations, avoid confusion, and ensure alignment and agreement among the stakeholders.

4 Monitor dependencies, risks, and changes

Monitoring dependencies, risks, and changes involves tracking, reviewing, and reporting on the progress and performance of the project in relation to the dependencies, risks, and changes that affect it. You can use tools such as a Gantt chart, a dashboard, or a status report to visualize and communicate the status and trends of the dependencies, risks, and changes, and to identify any deviations, issues, or opportunities. Monitoring dependencies, risks, and changes helps you to control the project scope, quality, schedule, and budget, and to take corrective or preventive actions as needed.

5 Collaborate with stakeholders

Collaborating with stakeholders involves engaging, involving, and empowering the people who have an interest or influence on the project, such as the project team, the customer, the sponsor, the vendors, or the end-users. Collaborating with stakeholders helps you to build trust, rapport, and commitment, and to leverage their expertise, feedback, and support. You can use tools such as a stakeholder register, a stakeholder analysis, or a RACI matrix to identify and classify the stakeholders and their roles, expectations, and communication preferences.

6 Learn from dependencies, risks, and changes

Learning from dependencies, risks, and changes involves capturing, analyzing, and sharing the lessons learned and the best practices from the project, especially regarding the dependencies, risks, and changes that occurred and how they were managed. Learning from dependencies, risks, and changes helps you to improve your project management skills, knowledge, and processes, and to apply them to future projects or initiatives. You can use tools such as a lessons learned register, a lessons learned report, or a knowledge repository to collect and disseminate the lessons learned and the best practices.