What does the risk mean and how can I interpret their results? – Changefirst Help Centre

Risk scores are averages. Some responses will translate to higher/lower than the average.

Do not assume that all respondents see the same risk in exactly the same way. You should approach respondents openly to gauge their feelings about a specific dimension of risk.

What risk scores should I tackle/target first?
Prioritise the top 5 (+/- 2) risks to work on.

They should be medium or high risks. It’s likely that addressing these specific risks will be the best strategy to increase commitment to your initiative. Working on more risks then this can overwhelm initiative teams.

Risk Level

A risk score that falls within this range suggests:

High 61+

Scores in this band must be given prioritised attention.

If untreated these risks can easily keep people at or move people into Resistance (see Lead Indicator)
Investigate the causes of the risk and build remedial actions as part of your change plan.

Medium 31-60

These risks need attention.

The initiative is unlikely to move beyond Accept/Need Support (see Lead Indicator) without reducing these risks.
Investigate the causes of the risk and build remedial actions as part of your change plan.

Low 0-30

No immediate attention required.

Scores in this band are not likely to be risks for your initiative.
Monitor these scores to make sure they don’t increase.

Note: You may be able to leverage these risk dimensions as enablers. e.g. consistently low Involvement scores may mean this is proving a successful tactic for your change project/initiative. Look for ways to do more of it.

Interpretation of Risk Level

More Information

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