Assessing Risk
Risk is often described as a combination of the likelihood of an event occurring and the consequences of that event.
Accessibility myths
Accessibility is often downgraded as a risk because there is a perception that:
- Not many users are affected.
- In reality, about 7% of University of Melbourne students are registered with Disability Support.
- 9% of employed Australians have a disability.
- Users who are having difficulty can get support elsewhere.
- The global pandemic has speeded up the shift to web only service delivery.
- In reality, services are provided online so that organisations don't have to provide face-to-face or telephone support.
- Nobody wants to wait around until a service becomes available.
Whilst accessibility is a risk, the level of risk is clearly not the same for all IT projects. Software which is used by 7 people, in a lab, obviously carries less risk than a system which will be accessed by 40,000 students.
The following table contains some risk indicators which can be used to help clarify the degree of risk in relation to services.
Risk Indicators - Education
| Indicator | Low Risk | High Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Number of students who will access service | None | All students |
| Number of staff who will access service | < 100 staff | > 1000 staff |
| Project budget | < $50,000 | > $50,000 |
| Frequency of access | Yearly | Daily |
| Degree of educational benefits | Low | High |
| Affects student ability to seek admission or enrol | No | Yes |
| Affects student ability to participate in courses or programs | No | Yes |
| Affects student use of facilities and services | No | Yes |
| Affects student participation in learning experiences | No | Yes |
| Affects student support services | No | Yes |