My experience with software projects is that minimizing risk, or conversely, maximizing the possibility of success, is possible in the following ways.

1. Make sure, as an IT professional, that you have counterparts in the organization who have a vested interest and deep understanding of the business need. Of course, you must be able to communicate with them and understand as much as possible about the business, but they are the ones who will use and benefit from the project. They will also help to explain the project to other key players in the organization.

2. Strive to organize projects into incremental pieces. Whenever I been have involved in "big bang" projects that try to solve many problems with one large stroke, we have come in over budget and behind schedule. You must keep the big picture in mind so that the pieces you build will eventually all work together, but build it from the bottom up.

3. Get the best people you can. If you or someone involved in the project don't have the skills required, find a consultant who has been through the cycle before with the technology you are using.

4. Be flexible and willing to change course. This doesn't mean changing on a whim, but if you learn something today that would better the outcome of the project, then don't be afraid to bring it to the other key players for consideration.

Risk in itself is not good or bad, it's how we manage it that determines whether we move forward or back.