What is a mitigation plan?
A mitigation plan is a strategy proactive to reduce the probability or impact of risks before they materialize.
Key features :
- Timing Planning phase or start of execution
- Objective prevent or mitigate identified risks
- Focus risk reduction/avoidance
- Approach based on probabilistic analysis, feedback and weak signals
Case in point:
On a civil engineering project, a high risk of seasonal flooding can have an impact on earthworks.
👉 A mitigation plan could include:
- Replan critical activities in dry periods
- Introduce float or lags
- Back-up equipment for rapid recovery
Modeling in Primavera P6 :
- Using the risk management module
- Linking risks to the activities concerned
- Define mitigation actions
- Simulate scenarios (e.g. Monte Carlo using external tools)
- Integrate contingency margins (float)
What is an acceleration plan?
A acceleration plan is a strategy reactive, It is used when the project is behind schedule or when the customer demands early delivery.
Key features :
- Timing : after a delay or at the customer's request
- Objective : making up time or compressing the schedule
- Focus : faster execution
- Impact : often rising costs and pressure on resources
Case in point:
A mechanical installation lot is 3 weeks behind schedule.
👉 Possible acceleration plan :
- Setting up double shifts or weekend work
- Reallocation of resources to the critical path
- Fast-tracking (overlapping tasks)
- Crashing (increasing resources to reduce durations)
Modeling in Primavera P6 :
- Analyze critical path after update
- Reduce durations or modify logic (FS → SS, FF...)
- Reprioritizing resources
- Compare with baseline to measure catch-up
- Assessing the cost/resource impact
Why this distinction is essential
In high-stakes environments (EPC, energy, infrastructure, defense), confusing mitigation with acceleration can lead to :
- Misaligned expectations among stakeholders
- Additional costs due to uncontrolled acceleration
- Poor visibility of risks
- Unanticipated contractual delays
✅ Best practices under Primavera P6
- Integrating risk from the outset (Primavera Risk Analysis, Safran Risk)
- Testing scenarios via copies or reflections
- Maintain a clean, fixed baseline
- Use filters and layouts to quickly identify drifts
- Clear documentation strategies in planning reports
Conclusion
In modern project controls, performance is based on the ability to be anticipatory and reactive at the same time :
- The mitigation plan reduces surprises
- The acceleration plan allows you to get back on track
👉 The best professionals know when to use one, when to activate the other - and how to combine them intelligently.
What about you? Have you already implemented mitigation or acceleration strategies? How has Primavera P6 helped you in your decisions?
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