VisionAtlas separates quick team signals from formal risk management. See Understanding entities for how observations and risks compare to action items and initiatives.
Observations
Observations are informal submissions from anyone on the team:
- Issues, blockers, ideas, opportunities, insights, suggestions
- Lightweight — title, description, and type
- Good for “something we should discuss” without full risk workflow
Contributors and most roles can submit observations when permitted by your company’s roles.
Detail and edit
- Open Observations in the sidebar and click a row to view the detail page
- Edit title, description, type, and links to goals, KPIs, or initiatives
- Set visibility on create (when RBAC v2 allows) for sensitive signals
Risk register
The Risk register is for formal risks that need tracking:
- Severity and probability
- Named owner
- Links to related goals, KPIs, or initiatives
- Status over time
Managers, department leaders, and executives typically create and manage risks; contributors usually view risks relevant to their visibility.
Detail and edit
- Open Risks in the sidebar and click a risk for the detail page
- Update severity, probability, owner, status, description, and entity links
- Match visibility with linked goals or initiatives for confidential programs
When to use which
| Situation | Use | Not |
|---|---|---|
| Quick blocker or idea in standup | **Observation** | Risk register |
| Escalation with owner and severity | **Risk register** | Observation only |
| Audit or leadership review trail | **Risk register** | Weekly update alone |
| Assigned follow-up with due date | [Action item](/help/action-items) | Observation |
| Ongoing program work | [Initiative](/help/initiatives) | Risk |
Weekly updates: recurring blockers in updates may warrant an observation first; escalate to a risk when ownership and severity matter. See Weekly updates.
Linking to goals, KPIs, and initiatives
On create or edit forms, use link fields to connect an observation or risk to related performance records. Linked items appear in context on detail pages and feed executive narratives (Executive Briefings, AI Summary, Executive reviews).
Access after sign-in
- Observations — sidebar → Observations
- Risk register — sidebar → Risks
Visibility follows your company’s security profile, per-record visibility settings, and role permissions. See Roles and permissions.