Generating a risk assessment regarding a software implementation project

1. A computer-implemented system for generating a risk assessment regarding a software implementation project, the system comprising one or more computer systems each comprising one or more processing units programmed with one or more software components to:

access a previously specified importance value and maximum score for each of a plurality of risk factors, the importance value for each risk factor reflecting experience of an implementing entity regarding the extent to which the risk factor may negatively impact a software implementation project if the risk factor is not adequately addressed, the importance value and maximum score for each risk factor being multiplied to define a potential weighted score for the risk factor;

receive an actual score for a particular software implementation project for each risk factor based on an analysis by the implementing entity specific to the particular software implementation project;

generate an actual weighted score for the particular software implementation project for each risk factor by multiplying the importance value and actual score for the risk factor;

determine a relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for each risk factor;

assign a risk level for the particular software implementation project to each risk factor according to the relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for the risk factor, the risk level for each risk factor representing an assessment by the implementing entity regarding the extent to which the risk factor may negatively impact the particular software implementation project if the risk factor is not adequately addressed;

generate a risk assessment for the particular software implementation project comprising one or more of the assigned risk levels for the particular software implementation project for one or more corresponding risk factors, wherein each risk factor is associated with one of a plurality of risk factor categories, each risk factor category comprising one or more risk factors; and

generate a risk factor category scorecard for display, the risk factor category scorecard providing at least one of a plurality of risk factor categories and data associated with each of the plurality of risk factor categories, the data selected from the group consisting of a category actual score, a category maximum score, and a category percentage risk,

wherein the category percentage risk is determined by:

determining a quotient of the category actual score and the category maximum score, the category actual score reflecting the sum of the actual scores of all risk factors within a risk factor category, the category maximum score reflecting the sum of the maximum scores of all risk factors within a risk factor category;

determining the quotient by dividing the category actual score by the category maximum score; and

determining the category percentage risk by multiplying the quotient by one hundred.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the software components are further operable to generate a risk assessment scorecard for display, the risk assessment scorecard providing the risk factors and the importance value, maximum score, potential weighted score, actual score, actual weighted score, and risk level for each risk factor in a spreadsheet format.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the maximum score is the same for each risk factor; and

the importance value and maximum score for a risk factor remain constant across multiple software implementation projects.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more software components are collectively operable to generate a risk factor category spider chart for display, the spider chart comprising a polygon with a number of sides equal to the number of risk factor categories, each pair of sides meeting at a vertex, a ray to each vertex reflecting a range of category percentage risks for a corresponding risk factor category, a data point on a particular ray reflecting the category percentage risk for the corresponding risk factor category.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the implementing entity is a seller of software to be implemented in the particular software implementation project at one or more sites of a client.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the actual score for a risk factor is determined by the implementing entity and is based on an evaluation of client resources and capabilities relevant to the risk factor.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for each risk factor, determining assignment of the risk level for the risk factor, is a percentage based on one minus the quotient of the actual weighted score and the potential weighted score for each risk factor.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the maximum score is a maximum attainable score.

9. A computer-implemented method for generating a risk assessment regarding a software implementation project, the method comprising:

accessing a previously specified importance value and maximum score for each of a plurality of risk factors, the importance value for each risk factor reflecting experience of an implementing entity regarding the extent to which the risk factor may negatively impact a software implementation project if the risk factor is not adequately addressed, the importance value and maximum score for each risk factor being multiplied to define a potential weighted score for the risk factor;

receiving an actual score for a particular software implementation project for each risk factor based on an analysis by the implementing entity specific to the particular software implementation project;

generating an actual weighted score for the particular software implementation project for each risk factor by multiplying the importance value and actual score for the risk factor;

determining a relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for each risk factor;

assigning a risk level for the particular software implementation project to each risk factor according to the relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for the risk factor, the risk level for each risk factor representing an assessment by the implementing entity regarding the extent to which the risk factor may negatively impact the particular software implementation project if the risk factor is not adequately addressed;

generating a risk assessment for the particular software implementation project comprising one or more of the assigned risk levels for the particular software implementation project for one or more corresponding risk factors, wherein each risk factor is associated with one of a plurality of risk factor categories, each risk factor category comprising one or more risk factors; and

generating a risk factor category scorecard for display, the risk factor category scorecard providing at least one of a plurality of risk factor categories and data associated with each of the plurality of risk factor categories, the data selected from the group consisting of a category actual score, a category maximum score, and a category percentage risk,

wherein the category percentage risk is determined by:

determining a quotient of the category actual score and the category maximum score, the category actual score reflecting the sum of the actual scores of all risk factors within a risk factor category, the category maximum score reflecting the sum of the maximum scores of all risk factors within a risk factor category;

determining the quotient by dividing the category actual score by the category maximum score; and

determining the category percentage risk by multiplying the quotient by one hundred.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising generating a risk assessment scorecard for display, the risk assessment scorecard providing the risk factors and the importance value, maximum score, potential weighted score, actual score, actual weighted score, and risk level for each risk factor in a spreadsheet format.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

the maximum score is the same for each risk factor; and the importance value and maximum score for a risk factor remain constant across multiple software implementation projects.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising generating a risk factor category spider chart for display, the spider chart comprising a polygon with a number of sides equal to the number of risk factor categories, each pair of sides meeting at a vertex, a ray to each vertex reflecting a range of category percentage risks for a corresponding risk factor category, a data point on a particular ray reflecting the category percentage risk for the corresponding risk factor category.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the implementing entity is a seller of software to be implemented in the particular software implementation project at one or more sites of a client.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the actual score for a risk factor is determined by the implementing entity and is based on an evaluation of client resources and capabilities relevant to the risk factor.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for each risk factor, determining assignment of the risk level for the risk factor, is a percentage based on one minus the quotient of the actual weighted score and the potential weighted score for each risk factor.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the maximum score is a maximum attainable score.

17. Software for generating a risk assessment regarding a software implementation project, the software being embodied in computer-readable media and when executed operable to:

access a previously specified importance value and maximum score for each of a plurality of risk factors, the importance value for each risk factor reflecting experience of an implementing entity regarding the extent to which the risk factor may negatively impact a software implementation project if the risk factor is not adequately addressed, the importance value and maximum score for each risk factor being multiplied to define a potential weighted score for the risk factor;

receive an actual score for a particular software implementation project for each risk factor based on an analysis by the implementing entity specific to the particular software implementation project;

generate an actual weighted score for the particular software implementation project for each risk factor by multiplying the importance value and actual score for the risk factor;

determine a relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for each risk factor;

assign a risk level for the particular software implementation project to each risk factor according to the relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for the risk factor, the risk level for each risk factor representing an assessment by the implementing entity regarding the extent to which the risk factor may negatively impact the particular software implementation project if the risk factor is not adequately addressed;

generate a risk assessment for the particular software implementation project comprising one or more of the assigned risk levels for the particular software implementation project for one or more corresponding risk factors, wherein each risk factor is associated with one of a plurality of risk factor categories, each risk factor category comprising one or more risk factors; and

generate a risk factor category scorecard for display, the risk factor category scorecard providing at least one of a plurality of risk factor categories and data associated with each of the plurality of risk factor categories, the data selected from the group consisting of a category actual score, a category maximum score, and a category percentage risk,

wherein the category percentage risk is determined by:

determining a quotient of the category actual score and the category maximum score, the category actual score reflecting the sum of the actual scores of all risk factors within a risk factor category, the category maximum score reflecting the sum of the maximum scores of all risk factors within a risk factor category;

determining the quotient by dividing the category actual score by the category maximum score; and

determining the category percentage risk by multiplying the quotient by one hundred.

18. The software of claim 17 , further operable to generate a risk assessment scorecard for display, the risk assessment scorecard providing the risk factors and the importance value, maximum score, potential weighted score, actual score, actual weighted score, and risk level for each risk factor in a spreadsheet format.

19. The software of claim 17 , wherein:

the maximum score is the same for each risk factor; and

the importance value and maximum score for a risk factor remain constant across multiple software implementation projects.

20. The software of claim 17 , further operable to generate a risk factor category spider chart for display, the spider chart comprising a polygon with a number of sides equal to the number of risk factor categories, each pair of sides meeting at a vertex, a ray to each vertex reflecting a range of category percentage risks for a corresponding risk factor category, a data point on a particular ray reflecting the category percentage risk for the corresponding risk factor category.

21. The software of claim 17 , wherein the implementing entity is a seller of software to be implemented in the particular software implementation project at one or more sites of a client.

22. The software of claim 21 , wherein the actual score for a risk factor is determined by the implementing entity and is based on an evaluation of client resources and capabilities relevant to the risk factor.

23. The software of claim 17 , wherein the relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for each risk factor, determining assignment of the risk level for the risk factor, is a percentage based on one minus the quotient of the actual weighted score and the potential weighted score for each risk factor.

24. The software of claim 17 , wherein the maximum score is a maximum attainable score.

25. A system for generating a risk assessment regarding a software implementation project, the system comprising:

means for accessing a previously specified importance value and maximum score for each of a plurality of risk factors, the importance value for each risk factor reflecting experience of an implementing entity regarding the extent to which the risk factor may negatively impact a software implementation project if the risk factor is not adequately addressed, the importance value and maximum score for each risk factor being multiplied to define a potential weighted score for the risk factor;

means for receiving an actual score for a particular software implementation project for each risk factor based on an analysis by the implementing entity specific to the particular software implementation project;

means for generating an actual weighted score for the particular software implementation project for each risk factor by multiplying the importance value and actual score for the risk factor;

means for determining a relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for each risk factor;

means for assigning a risk level for the particular software implementation project to each risk factor according to the relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for the risk factor, the risk level for each risk factor representing an assessment by the implementing entity regarding the extent to which the risk factor may negatively impact the particular software implementation project if the risk factor is not adequately addressed;

means for generating a risk assessment for the particular software implementation project comprising one or more of the assigned risk levels for the particular software implementation project for one or more corresponding risk factors, wherein each risk factor is associated with one of a plurality of risk factor categories, each risk factor category comprising one or more risk factors; and

means for generating a risk factor category scorecard for display, the risk factor category scorecard providing at least one of a plurality of risk factor categories and data associated with each of the plurality of risk factor categories, the data selected from the group consisting of a category actual score, a category maximum score, and a category percentage risk,

wherein the category percentage risk is determined by:

determining a quotient of the category actual score and the category maximum score, the category actual score reflecting the sum of the actual scores of all risk factors within a risk factor category, the category maximum score reflecting the sum of the maximum scores of all risk factors within a risk factor category;

determining the quotient by dividing the category actual score by the category maximum score; and

determining the category percentage risk by multiplying the quotient by one hundred.

26. A system for generating a risk assessment regarding a software implementation project, comprising:

means for accessing a previously specified importance value and maximum score for each of a plurality of risk factors, the importance value for each risk factor reflecting experience of an implementing entity regarding the extent to which the risk factor may negatively impact a software implementation project if the risk factor is not adequately addressed, the importance value being the same for a risk factor across all software implementations, the maximum score being the same for each risk factor across all software implementation projects, the importance value and maximum score for each risk factor being multiplied to define a potential weighted score for the risk factor, each risk factor being associated with one of a plurality of risk factor categories each comprising one or more risk factors;

means for receiving an actual score for a particular software implementation project for each risk factor based on an analysis by the implementing entity specific to the particular software implementation project, the analysis for each risk factor comprising an evaluation of client resources and capabilities relevant to the risk factor;

means for generating an actual weighted score for the particular software implementation project for each risk factor by multiplying the importance value and actual score for the risk factor;

means for determining a relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for each risk factor;

means for assigning a risk level for the particular software implementation project to each risk factor according to the relationship between the potential weighted score and the actual weighted score for the risk factor, the risk level for each risk factor representing an assessment by the implementing entity regarding the extent to which the risk factor may negatively impact the particular software implementation project if the risk factor is not adequately addressed; and

means for generating a risk factor category scorecard for display, the risk factor category scorecard providing at least one of a plurality of risk factor categories and data associated with each of the plurality of risk factor categories, the data selected from the group consisting of a category actual score, a category maximum score, and a category percentage risk,

wherein the category percentage risk is determined by:

means for determining a quotient of the category actual score and the category maximum score, the category actual score reflecting the sum of the actual scores of all risk factors within a risk factor category, the category maximum score reflecting the sum of the maximum scores of all risk factors within a risk factor category;

means for determining the quotient by dividing the category actual score by the category maximum score; and

means for determining the category percentage risk by multiplying the quotient by one hundred.