As a mission supervisor, we’re continuously monitoring actions, dangers, points, and extra – these are the bread-and-butter actions for mission managers to maintain the mission on monitor. However have you ever ever discovered the best way to use a RAID log correctly?
I hadn’t. It was one thing touched on in numerous training courses I’d performed over the 12 months, however I’d by no means had coaching on the ‘how’ of RAID logs. Till now. I took the RAID Log Practitioner coaching and it was surprisingly price it!
On this RAID Log Practitioner course evaluation, I’ll share:
- Why it’s price doing a course particularly about RAID logs
- Why it’s particularly good for early profession mission managers
- How one can get the certificates.
I’ve used RAID logs in my mission administration apply for over 20 years, and I discovered issues on this course – the stack rank constraint priorities train was an actual eye-opener and one thing I can undoubtedly use with my stakeholders.
What’s a RAID log?
I’ve a super-detailed article on what’s a RAID log (the brief reply is that RAID is an acronym of Dangers, Actions/Assumptions, Points, Selections/Dependencies, and it’s a software that mission managers use to maintain on high of their mission work).
RAIDLOG is the corporate that runs the Practitioner course.
Why do a course on RAID?
I do know, I had the identical thought: is it actually price spending 4 hours studying what to place right into a spreadsheet? What actually do it’s important to find out about that? Particularly as there are many good articles and movies about it on-line already.
Nonetheless, I used to be stunned at how deep the course went. We dove deep into threat administration and different areas, in addition to the worth of historic logging – and the way this may prevent!
I used to be skeptical about whether or not it was price doing an entire course on this. However it turned out to be a great use of my time, greater than only a refresher. So many nuggets of data!

Who’s the RAID Log Practitioner course for?
Because of doing the course, I can say that it’s geared toward mission managers who wish to, or who do, use RAID logs for the every day work administration. It can assist to have some data of what they’re and the way you wish to use them, however the coaching began with the fundamentals so that you don’t want any prior data.
I assumed the course was good for individuals who have had ‘basic’ mission administration coaching, however who haven’t had any ‘how do I really do that’ coaching.
This course is nice for:
- Individuals who wish to work as a mission/PMO analyst who would have duty for updating logs of their day job.
- Early profession mission managers who need the arrogance that they’re specializing in the precise issues that may maintain the mission transferring ahead.
- Challenge managers who wish to guarantee they’re monitoring work and staying as organized as they will.
- Challenge managers who have to get PDUs and wish to do an fascinating course! This coaching will give you 4 PDUs and a certification.
66% of individuals surveyed (knowledge shared within the coaching) mentioned that RAID logs assist maintain them organized, and I actually really feel that’s the case for me.
Different advantages shared within the coaching have been speaking with stakeholders (51%), keeping the project Green and being a helpful automobile for overlaying your bottom and holding a file of what has occurred.
Concerning the course and construction
The coaching is made up of 4 elements. These are:
- Introduction to RAID logs
- RAID fundamentals
- Utilizing your RAID log
- Past RAID
Intro to RAID logs
This was a really brief overview part, adopted by a fast break. It checked out what RAID is, why we must always use it, the historical past of this software and the coach shared experiences of what occurred in a mission that didn’t have a log.
RAID fundamentals
The majority of the coaching time, I’d say about 50%, was spent on reviewing the several types of gadgets saved in a RAID log.
This a part of the coaching checked out risk management, issue management, decision making and monitoring, change requests, dependencies, lessons learned, action tracking and a few of the different issues you may embrace in log tabs.
We went into loads of element corresponding to likelihood and impression scales, several types of classes, motion planning to handle gadgets, belief bricks and much more.

Utilizing your RAID log
This part coated the best way to use the record for communication and administration, sharing it with stakeholders. We discovered about utilizing the log as a substitute of assembly minutes and the best way to consolidate dangers and so forth at portfolio stage, the best way to use it for mission restoration.
Past RAID
This was the part I used to be most trying ahead to because it coated the usage of AI, integrations and the way forward for the RAIDLOG software program. It was the shortest a part of the coaching total.
Meet your coach
My coach was Kim Essendrup,
His model was simple, the slides have been good, he received the viewers to work together with the fabric. Kim clearly is aware of his stufff and included examples, quotes, tales and so forth to make it an enticing course.
How lengthy does the RAID log coaching take?
It’s a stay coaching course that takes 4 hours. There are (very brief) breaks.
How the evaluation works
There’s a graded quiz on the finish of the coaching. There are 10 questions. I didn’t discover it very onerous and there’s the chance to retake for those who want it.

What certificates do you get?
You get a downloadable PDF certificates, and a shareable LinkedIn badge. The certificates is ‘printed’ in you can share a hyperlink in order that others can confirm your achievement. You may see mine here.

You may submit your PDUs whether or not you cross the check or not. In the event you do cross, the system will robotically submit the PDUs for you – simply ensure your PMI ID is on the file.
Professionals
The advantages of doing this coaching are:
- It’s a good way to get into element of a sensible software that may actually assist maintain your mission on monitor and transferring ahead in the precise means.
- You might be inspired to create dangers, points and so forth throughout the coaching so you may get sensible expertise of how greatest to phrase and doc gadgets.
- It’s a stay coaching, so you may ask questions.
The coaching is just not tool-specific, so whilst you might use RAIDLOG to start out monitoring your actions (and also you get 6 months skilled license included in the price of the coaching), you would merely use a spreadsheet or no matter your PMO mandates for mission administration software program.
Cons
The disadvantages that I discovered are as follows.
- 4 hours on Zoom is a very long time. We did have breaks, however it made me understand that I’ve to battle to remain engaged.
- Typically utilizing the software program to debate the function felt a bit lengthy, like coming into set off dates and displaying the best way to kind by these.
- I’m jealous that I don’t have the software program – warmth maps and the sliders are actually good, and also you simply can’t get that simply in Excel.
Lastly, it’s price mentioning that the corporate delivering the coaching additionally sells a mission administration software program software designed to handle your RAID log. The coaching was NOT a delicate pitch for the software, however they did use the software for workout routines throughout the coaching. In the event you suppose your delegates can be very delicate to something that may really feel like ‘gross sales’ then you definately may wish to allow them to know that’s how the course goes to be.

Suggestion: Must you purchase this course?
In case you are apprehensive about work working away from you, then it’s price investing on this coaching as a result of it would provide help to in a really sensible means.
It covers subjects like threat urge for food, threat tolerance and threat thresholds, plus deep dives into resolution making, situation administration processes and extra. These may be new for you, and even for those who suppose they’re going to be a recap it’s price it.
I discovered issues on this coaching, regardless of having performed the job for a few years. It’s solely going to take you a day and also you’ll come away feeling like you may have a renewed curiosity in making your RAID log be just right for you.
I used to be given the chance to take the RAID Log Practitioner Certification course in October 2024 by the coaching firm – thanks!