Which scenario illustrates risk mitigation rather than avoidance?

• A. Dropping a risky feature entirely
• B. Adding extra QA to reduce risk
• C. Skipping testing to save time
• D. Outsourcing to a cheaper vendor

Answer: (B)

Mitigation means taking steps to reduce the likelihood or impact of problems while still pursuing the goal. Adding extra QA lowers risk by catching defects earlier, improving quality before release, and preventing costly failures down the line. It directly reduces the chances that a bad issue slips through, which is the essence of risk mitigation.

Dropping a risky feature eliminates the risk entirely by not pursuing that path, which is avoidance rather than mitigation. Skipping testing to save time abandons safety nets and typically increases risk. Outsourcing to a cheaper vendor shifts or introduces new risks and costs rather than specifically reducing the existing risk through a quality-focused safeguard.