A Practical Guide to Managing Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies
What Is a RAID Log?
RAID is an acronym that stands for Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Decisions.
Risks are the potential problems lurking in your project. Risks tend to be thought of as hurting the project, but there are also positive risks.
Assumptions are conditions that need to occur for the project to go as planned
Issues are when something goes wrong in the project. If an issue isn’t managed and resolved it can derail the project or cause the project to fail.
Decisions are how you decided to act in the project.
A RAID log, therefore, is a project management tool that tracks risks, actions, issues and decisions. It’s a simple way to organize this information and comes in handy during meetings and project audits.
Many project managers know about RAID logs in project management. You record risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies there. People often see RAID logs as just another form to fill out.
In truth, when you integrate RAID logs properly into PRINCE2 7th Edition, you gain real control over your projects.
PRINCE2 7th Edition does not name RAID logs directly in the manual. However, the method builds them right into the practices.
You manage these elements through the risk management approach, issue management, and plans. When you do this well, your projects avoid surprises, and your project board receives clear updates.
Let me walk you through each part of RAID logs in project management. We will see where it fits in PRINCE2 7th Edition and how you apply it every day.
What Are Risks in PRINCE2 7th Edition? Build Your Risk Management Approach Now
You handle risks through the strengthened risk practice in PRINCE2 7th Edition. The project manager records every risk in the risk register. You also set risk appetite and tolerance levels with the project board early on.
Here is a step that works every time: for each risk in your RAID logs, the project manager answers these two questions right away.
- What action do we take if this risk happens tomorrow?
- Who takes ownership of that action?
You prevent risks from becoming emergencies when you plan responses this way.
Why Track Assumptions in RAID Logs?
Avoid Hidden Project Failures
Teams often overlook assumptions until problems arise. You define an assumption as something the team accepts as true today, but without solid evidence. If the assumption proves wrong, it derails the entire project
PRINCE2 7th Edition requires you to document assumptions in the business case practice and during planning. The project manager keeps an assumptions log, or adds it as a section in your RAID logs spreadsheet.
For example, the team assumes that the supplier delivers materials by the end of Q2. The project manager assigns someone to verify this by a set date. The team also plans fallback steps if the assumption fails.
Handle Issues Effectively in PRINCE2 7th Edition:
Not All Require Formal Escalation
PRINCE2 7th Edition draws a clear line in issue management between formal issues that need change control and everyday ones. The project manager logs routine issues in the issue register: delayed approvals, team absences, or requests for small scope additions.
Every week, the project manager leads the team in a quick review.
You ask these three questions for each issue:
- Can the team close it now?
- Does the project manager need to escalate it?
- Who handles it this week?
You stop small issues from turning into major disruptions with this routine.
Manage Dependencies in RAID Logs: Stop PRINCE2 Projects from Stalling
Dependencies mean your project relies on inputs from other teams or external sources. PRINCE2 7th Edition addresses them fully in the plans practice and at stage boundaries.
The project manager maintains a dependency log in your RAID logs.
It answers these four key questions:
- What specific input does the project need?
- Who outside the project owns it (use a name, not a vague department)?
- When must it arrive?
- What steps does the team take if it delays?
The project manager highlights critical dependencies in highlight reports. The project board then understands these as real obstacles. They often step in to resolve them faster.
Set Up Your RAID Logs in PRINCE2 7th Edition: One Simple System
You do not create four separate files for RAID logs. Teams I support use one Excel workbook or Microsoft Lists. It has sections for risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies. The project manager adds a front summary that pulls the top five items from each. This setup feeds directly into your highlight reports. It works on phones, in meetings, or when you update the project board quickly.
Integrate RAID Logs into Your PRINCE2 Daily and Stage Routines
RAID logs turn from busywork into tools when you build them into routines. The project manager follows these steps:
- At stage start, the team reviews all RAID logs together. You add fresh items and close outdated ones.
- In weekly team meetings, the project manager allocates ten minutes to RAID actions only.
- For every highlight report, the project manager lists the top three to five items per area and explains your responses.
- At stage end, the project manager confirms that the team validated all key assumptions.
You spot threats early and keep projects on track with these habits.
Why RAID Logs Boost Success in PRINCE2 7th Edition Projects
RAID logs keep things straightforward. You maintain four focused lists with steady effort and practical steps. When the project manager ties them to PRINCE2 7th Edition practices like risk management, issue management, change, plans, and business case, control improves across the board.
Test RAID logs on your next stage for two weeks. You notice smoother progress right away.
If you want hands-on guidance on RAID logs in project management, plus ready templates and real examples for PRINCE2 7th Edition, check out my PRINCE2 7th Edition Masterclass. The training equips you to deliver projects effectively, beyond just exam prep.
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The PRINCE2 Foundation examination assesses your knowledge and comprehension of the PRINCE2 project management methodology as detailed in the syllabus. The PRINCE2 Practitioner examination, on the other hand, gauges your ability to apply and tailor the PRINCE2 method. Candidates who pass the Practitioner exam should be able to start implementing the method on an actual project with some guidance. However, their effectiveness may differ based on their experience in project management, the complexity of the project, and the level of support they receive in their work environment.
