What type of action should be taken to reduce the probability of negative project risks?

To reduce the probability of negative project risks, preventive actions are the most effective approach. These are proactive measures designed to identify potential risks before they occur and implement strategies to avoid or mitigate them. Engaging in preventive planning allows project managers to build contingencies and safeguards into the project, ensuring that potential issues are addressed ahead of time.

By focusing on preventive actions, project teams can create a robust risk management plan that identifies risk triggers, establishes clear protocols for risk response, and promotes a culture of awareness around possible threats. This strategic foresight enables teams to minimize the likelihood of adverse events impacting the project's timeline, budget, or overall success.

In contrast, the other types of actions listed, such as corrective, deterrent, and responsive, do not specifically focus on diminishing the likelihood of risks manifesting in the first place. Corrective actions are aimed at addressing risks after they have occurred, deterrent actions focus on discouraging risky behavior, and responsive actions are reactions to risks that have already impacted the project. These strategies are reactive rather than proactive, which is why they are less effective when the goal is to reduce the probability of risks.