scope:

Purpose

This handbook provides a uniform approach for performing risk assessments across all discipline areas at GSFC, within the context of the continuous risk management process described in GPR 7120.4. This document may also be used to support projects under other risk management plans and procedures, and in such cases, the scales and likelihood and consequence definitions may differ from those in GPR 7120.4. This document does not supersede organizational or project/program usage of local risk management processes. The purpose of using a uniform risk assessment approach is that likelihood and consequence ranks used to estimate risks are derived consistently from a common reference. Commonly-derived basis ranks enable comparing risks consistently to provide engineers and managers more credible assessments for programmatic, safety, and technical decisions.

Applicability

The guidance set forth in this document provides the baseline approach for assessing and communicating risk, consistent with GSFC and NASA risk management policies and procedures.

This handbook may be cited in contracts, program, project, and other Agency documents to provide technical guidance.

The guidance provided in this document is based on extensive GSFC experience and those of its subcontractors.