Risk Breakdown Structure

What Is a Risk Breakdown Structure?

A risk breakdown structure (RBS), in form, is much like a work breakdown structure (WBS). Both are organized as hierarchical breakdowns and each contain descending levels with increased detail. Both the WBS and the RBS seek to decompose items to actionable levels.

With the risk breakdown structure, risks are organized according to risk categories. The highest level of the RBS would include the project name. In a construction project, examples of next highest level risks might include: project management, material supply and the weather.

When we further decompose the risk category of project management, we might list: inexperienced project manager and relatively young project management office. Beneath young project management office we might find risks like: lacking in established procedures, little to no documented lessons learned.

The risk breakdown structure can be constructed in several formats. Sometimes they appear in the form of a flow chart and sometimes in the form of an outline or list. The free template below uses an outline or list-style presentation.

Risk Breakdown Structure Template

Need More Templates?

Your free Risk Breakdown Structure template is provided below.

Is it time to develop an effective project management plan? If so, check out our new e-book, The Practitioner’s Book of Project Management Templates. It contains the subsidiary management plans and project documents you need.

Consider a Set of Templates

Free Download

Risk Breakdown Structure Template - Word


Download now in Word format.

Get Template

Risk Breakdown Structure Template - PDF


Download now in PDF format.

Get Template

Who Creates the Risk Breakdown Structure?

The risk breakdown structure is created by the project manager with enormous input from members of the project management team. Like many of the project management documents, it may need revised several times during the life of the project.

What Are the Inputs?

Inputs to creating the risk breakdown structure include the project management plan, organizational process assets and enterprise environmental factors.

How Is It Used?

A risk breakdown structure provides a way to group potential causes of risk. In the example of the construction project above, multiple risks were identified under the category of project management. The RBS is useful in the Identify Risks process because it helps the project team examine the sources from which risk arise.

Make Work Easier

Looking for a better solution? Consider getting The Practitioner’s Book of Project Management Templates. It contains a set of 86 editable project management templates. We think you’ll find it helps eliminate gaps in project planning. By the way, it includes an updated version of this Risk Breakdown Structure template.

Get a Set of Templates