The probability of occurrence for an opportunity may be increased by focusing attention on…
PMBOK v8 Definition
The enhance strategy is used to increase the probability and/or impact of an opportunity. The probability of occurrence for an opportunity may be increased by focusing attention on its causes. Where it is not possible to increase probability, an enhancement response might increase the impact by targeting factors that drive the size of the potential benefit. Early enhancement action is often more effective than trying to improve the benefit after the opportunity has occurred.
This concept belongs to Risk Management – specifically the Plan Risk Responses process, which is part of the Planning Process Group.
Why It Matters for the Exam
The PMI exam frequently tests your ability to distinguish between the five opportunity response strategies (Exploit, Enhance, Share, Accept, Escalate). Questions on Enhance appear in scenario-based items where you must select the correct strategy to increase the probability or impact of a positive risk. The exam also tests the distinction between increasing probability (by focusing on causes) versus increasing impact (by targeting factors that drive benefit size).
Key Points to Remember (for the exam)
- Primary Purpose: Increase the probability and/or impact of an opportunity
- Probability Enhancement Method: Focus attention on the causes of the opportunity
- Impact Enhancement Method: Target factors that drive the size of the potential benefit
- Timing Principle: Early enhancement action is more effective than trying to improve the benefit after the opportunity has occurred
- Example: Adding more resources to an activity to finish early
- When to Accept: Use Accept for low-priority opportunities or when enhancement is not cost-effective
- Key Distinction from Exploit: Enhance seeks to increase probability/impact; Exploit seeks to ensure the opportunity definitely happens (probability = 100%)
Typical PMI Exam Example
A project team identifies that completing a software module two weeks early could allow the client to begin user acceptance testing sooner, generating additional revenue. The project manager decides to assign two additional developers to the module. This is an example of which risk response strategy?
Answer: Enhance – because adding resources increases the probability of early completion (focusing on causes of the opportunity).
PMI Exam Traps
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Trap: Confusing Enhance with Exploit Reality: Enhance increases probability/impact but does not guarantee realization; Exploit ensures the opportunity definitely happens (probability = 100%)
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Trap: Thinking Enhance only increases probability Reality: Enhance can increase probability (by focusing on causes) OR impact (by targeting factors driving benefit size)
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Trap: Applying Enhance to threats instead of opportunities Reality: Enhance is an opportunity response strategy; for threats, the equivalent strategies are Avoid, Mitigate, Transfer, Accept, Escalate
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Trap: Selecting Accept when Enhance is possible and cost-effective Reality: Accept is appropriate for low-priority opportunities or when enhancement is not cost-effective; always consider Enhance first for high-priority opportunities
Important PMI Connections
| Related Concept | Relationship Type | Exam Attention Point |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit | Opposing strategy | Exploit aims for 100% probability; Enhance aims to increase but not guarantee |
| Accept | Alternative strategy | Accept is passive; Enhance is proactive – choose based on priority and cost-effectiveness |
| Probability and Impact Matrix | Supporting tool | Opportunities use positive impact definitions; Enhance affects the probability-impact score |
| Risk Register | Output of Plan Risk Responses | All response strategies (including Enhance) are documented in the risk register |
| Escalate | Alternative strategy | Escalate when opportunity is outside project scope; Enhance when within project control |
Quick Review Questions
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A project manager identifies that a vendor might deliver materials ahead of schedule, allowing the project to start early. What response strategy should be selected if the project manager wants to increase the probability of this early delivery?
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When using the Enhance strategy for an opportunity, what is the difference between increasing probability versus increasing impact?
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A high-priority opportunity is identified, but the project team determines it is not possible to increase the probability of occurrence. Can the Enhance strategy still be applied? If so, how?
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What is the primary reason early enhancement action is more effective than waiting until after the opportunity has occurred?
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In what situation would a project manager choose Accept over Enhance for an identified opportunity?
PMBOK v8 Reference
This concept is found in the Plan Risk Responses process within the Risk Management knowledge area. The specific content on opportunity response strategies, including Enhance, is located in the section addressing risk response planning. The provided context passages (Passage 1 and Passage 2) contain the exact PMBOK v8 wording on the Enhance strategy, including the statement that "the probability of occurrence for an opportunity may be increased by focusing attention on its causes."