In Agile Foundation guidance, the risk practice is explicitly responsible for the identification, assessment, and management of uncertainties, making option A the correct answer. Risk is defined as uncertainty that, if it occurs, will have a positive or negative impact on objectives. Agile recognizes that uncertainty is inherent in complex and adaptive work, so effective risk management is essential to successful delivery.
The risk practice focuses on proactively identifying uncertainties early, assessing their likelihood and impact, and determining appropriate responses. Agile Foundation documents emphasize that risk management in Agile is continuous rather than a one-time activity. Risks are regularly reviewed, updated, and addressed throughout the lifecycle as new information emerges. This aligns with Agile principles of transparency, inspection, and adaptation, allowing teams to respond to uncertainty in a timely and informed manner.
Option B, plans, focuses on outlining how objectives will be achieved and how work will be organized over time. While planning may take risks into account, it does not primarily identify or assess uncertainties. Option C, quality, ensures that outputs meet agreed standards and acceptance criteria but does not deal directly with uncertainty. Option D, business case, justifies why a project should proceed by outlining costs, benefits, and risks at a high level, but it does not actively manage or assess uncertainties on an ongoing basis.
Agile Foundation guidance highlights that Agile approaches often reduce risk by delivering incrementally, seeking early feedback, and validating assumptions quickly. However, this does not eliminate the need for a structured risk practice. Instead, risk management supports Agile delivery by making uncertainties visible and manageable. By embedding risk identification and assessment into regular team activities, organizations can make better decisions, protect value, and increase confidence among stakeholders while still maintaining flexibility and responsiveness to change.
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