The simplicity and flexibility of the PDPC can result in very different diagrams, with various levels of detail and different symbols and boxes used to indicate specific items. The common theme is the identification of risk and how it might be handled.
Two of the most common elements of risk are cost and time, for example where there is a risk in a busy schedule of key equipment being unavailable and consequent time loss and additional expense being incurred in hiring replacement machines. A possible resolution of this risk is to hire standby equipment, which may be selected if this cost is considered to be lower than the cost of missing a committed completion date.
There are three possible routes that may be taken for coping with identified risks: risk avoidance, risk reduction and contingency planning. The chosen approach in each case may affect actions during the construction of the PDPC, as indicated in the diagram below.