Risk Owner
The individual assigned to a specific risk who tracks its status and chooses and carries out the most appropriate response strategy.
Key Points
- Accountable for a particular risk from identification through closure.
- Monitors triggers, early warning signs, and changes in probability or impact.
- Selects the response strategy (avoid, mitigate, transfer, accept, exploit, enhance, share) and ensures it is executed.
- Updates the risk register and communicates status; may delegate tasks but retains overall accountability.
Example
In a construction project, the risk of steel delivery delays is assigned to the procurement lead as the risk owner. She tracks supplier lead times and quality reports, decides to qualify a secondary supplier, and implements the mitigation plan to split orders if the primary vendor slips.
PMP Example Question
Who is primarily accountable for tracking a specific risk and for deciding on and implementing the appropriate response?
- Project sponsor
- Risk owner
- Risk action owner
- Project manager
Correct Answer: B — Risk owner
Explanation: The risk owner monitors the assigned risk and selects and implements the response strategy; action owners may execute tasks, but the risk owner retains accountability.
