This Project Sizing Tool divides projects into three categories (Small, Medium and Large), to indicate the
appropriate level of risk management process. Two
shortcuts are used: Projects with value <$50K are automatically defined as Small, and Projects valued at >$5M are defined as Large. Projects valued between $50K-$5M are assessed against the ten criteria below. For each criterion the closest description is selected, and the corresponding criterion score is recorded at the right of the row (one of 2, 4, 8 or 16). Criterion scores are totalled to give an overall project score, indicating project size as follows: !75 Large project An extended ATOM risk management process is required 35 74 Medium project A standard ATOM risk management process is required < 35 Small project A reduced ATOM risk management process is required
CRITERION Criterion Value = 2 Criterion Value = 4 Criterion Value = 8 Criterion Value = 16 Criterion Score Strategic importance Minor contribution to business objectives Significant contribution to business objectives Major contribution to business objectives Critical to business success Commercial / contractual complexity No unusual commercial arrangements or conditions Minor deviation from existing commercial practices Novel commercial practices, new to at least one party Ground-breaking commercial practices
External constraints and dependencies None Some external influence on elements of the project Key project objectives depend on external factors Overall project success depends on external factors
Requirement stability Clear fully-defined agreed objectives Some requirement uncertainty, minor changes during project Major requirement uncertainty, major changes during project Requirements not finalised and subject to negotiation
Technical complexity Routine repeat business, no new technology Enhancement of existing product/service Novel product/project with some innovation Ground-breaking project with high innovation
Market sector regulatory characteristics No regulatory requirements Standard regulatory framework Challenging regulatory requirements Highly regulated or novel sector
Project value Small project value (<$250K) Significant project value ($250K-1M) Major project value ($1-3M) Large project value (>$3M)
Project duration
Duration <3 months Duration 3-12 months Duration 1-3 years Duration >3 years Project resources Small in-house project team Medium in-house project team Large project team including external contractors International project team or joint venture