Some engineers are completing an activity that will alert the project team if there is a risk of requiring additional effort to complete the project. What should the risk manager do in case the trigger arises?

The alert described in the scenario is a risk trigger, a pre-defined event or condition that signals a risk is imminent or has occurred. According to standard risk management practice, the purpose of identifying triggers is to provide a clear signal for when to execute a planned risk response. The contingency plan is the specific set of actions developed in advance to be taken in response to the risk materializing. Therefore, when the trigger arises, the correct and immediate action for the risk manager is to activate the corresponding contingency plan to manage the risk's impact on the project.

B. Request a reserves increase: This action might be part of the contingency plan, but activating the overall plan is the primary, encompassing step.
C. Add the alert to the risk register: The risk and its trigger should have been identified and documented in the risk register during the planning phase.
D. Update the risk response plan: The plan is executed when a risk occurs, not updated. The plan is created before the risk event happens.

1. Project Management Institute. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Sixth Edition. Section 11.6, Implement Risk Responses. The guide states that this process involves executing the agreed-upon risk response plans when risk events occur. A trigger signals such an event.

2. Project Management Institute. (2019). The Standard for Risk Management in Portfolios, Programs, and Projects. Section 6.1, Implement Risk Responses Overview. This standard specifies that the purpose of this process is to "action the agreed-upon risk response plans." The trigger's occurrence is the cue to take this action.

3. Hillson, D. (2009). Managing Risk in Projects. Gower Publishing, Ltd. Chapter 10, Risk Response Planning. This text explains that contingency plans are pre-planned actions to be implemented only if and when their associated risk occurs, often identified by a trigger.