A Hierarchy Gap Method (HGM) for risk identification

The importance of risk identification has been concerned more and more by engineers these years. However, there remain some difficulties in risk identification: it excessively relies on engineers´ experience, lacks quantificational assessing method, and rarely makes use of computer even as assistant. Aiming at these weaknesses, a new approach to identify risk, Hierarchy Gaps Method (HGM) is proposed. Firstly Hierarchy Method is established using Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Property Breakdown Structure (PBS); then new risk definitions and its symbols and algorithms are given. Finally the new approach of risk identification, HGM, is concluded. HGM has the following properties: 1 Risk management personnel´s workload is reduced obviously and their efficiency is improved greatly, because most of the logical analysis is processed by computer and less relies on expect. 2 HGM is more logical and systematical while quantificational analyzing method is adopted, and risk can be identified completely and accurately. 3 The HGM is an open process, so productions of other research can be well involved.