HKSM
Risk Burndown Chart
A visual tool that tracks the total project risk severity over time. The probabilities of individual risks are stacked to display the combined, cumulative risk on the y-axis. Teams identify and assess risks and create this chart early in the project, then update it as the work proceeds.
Key Points
- Shows cumulative risk severity on the y-axis against time on the x-axis.
- Stacks the likelihood (and often exposure) of multiple risks to reveal total risk at each time point.
- Built early after initial risk identification and assessment, then reviewed and updated regularly.
- A downward trend indicates effective risk responses and decreasing overall risk exposure.
Example
An Agile team launches a new platform. During sprint 0, they identify risks such as vendor delay, security gaps, and performance issues. They create a risk burndown chart that stacks the probabilities of these risks each sprint. After implementing mitigation actions (e.g., early security testing and performance spikes), the chart shows a steady decline in cumulative risk by sprint 4.
PMP Example Question
Which artifact best helps an Agile team visualize whether overall project risk exposure is trending downward across sprints?
- Risk register heat map
- Risk burndown chart
- Cumulative flow diagram
- Issue log
Correct Answer: B — Risk burndown chart
Explanation: The risk burndown chart stacks risk likelihoods to show total risk severity over time, making it ideal for tracking whether overall exposure decreases as responses are implemented.
