DESIGNATE Key Person Risk Checklist

Key Person
Risk Checklist

When Knowledge Lives in One Person's Head

16 items across 4 dimensions — identify the documentation gaps that create operational risk.

42%

of company knowledge
exists only in individual heads

Panopto, Workplace Knowledge Study, 2024

74%

of organizations lack
a formal knowledge process

APQC, Knowledge Management Survey, 2024

If it's not documented, it's not a process. It's a dependency on someone's memory.

— Designate Solutions

DESIGNATE Key Person Risk Checklist

Knowledge silos are invisible until they're catastrophic. This checklist identifies the critical functions that depend on a single person, and the documentation gaps that would leave you scrambling to backfill.

Note: This checklist covers your revenue operations knowledge base — the processes, systems, and institutional knowledge that keep your revenue engine running. If fewer than eight items are documented, you have a person dependency — not a process.

Scoring: Check each item that is formally documented and accessible to at least two people. Your total tells you how exposed you are to key person risk.

1

Systems & Infrastructure

CRM configuration and customization logic is documented and maintained outside one person's head.

Your IT infrastructure (CRM, data stack, integrations) is diagrammed and documented.

Key API credentials, database access, and system integrations are documented and backed up.

There is a documented runbook for critical operational failures or escalations.

2

Sales Process & Revenue

Sales process and stage definitions are documented with clear criteria for advancement.

Lead scoring and qualification model are documented with the math behind the model.

Pipeline forecasting methodology is documented with assumptions and inputs.

Rep compensation plans are documented with all rules, exceptions, and edge cases.

DESIGNATE Key Person Risk Checklist

3

Data & Analytics

Win/loss analysis methodology and findings are documented and stored centrally.

Data governance standards (definitions, validation rules, cleanup cadence) are documented.

Your territory model and account assignment logic are formalized and documented.

Your revenue operations calendar (reviews, planning cycles, reporting) is documented.

4

People & Knowledge Transfer

At least two people can run a forecast without the primary person being available.

At least two people can troubleshoot your CRM's core integrations and workflows.

New hires have a documented onboarding plan that covers all critical RevOps processes.

There is a knowledge base or wiki where operational processes are maintained and versioned.

Your Total Score

0 / 16

DESIGNATE Key Person Risk Checklist

Your Key Person Risk Score

Count the items you checked. Your total out of 16 tells you how much of your critical knowledge is at risk.

Score Range	What It Means
14–16 Low Risk	Your critical knowledge is well-documented. Key person departures would cause disruption, not crisis.
10–13 Moderate Risk	Most critical knowledge is documented, but gaps exist. Identify and close the highest-risk items.
6–9 High Risk	Significant knowledge lives in individual heads. A key departure would cause serious operational disruption.
0–5 Critical Risk	Your operations depend heavily on specific individuals. A single departure could break your revenue engine.

What's Your Next Step?

Already taken the 5-Minute Scorecard?

Schedule a Revenue Systems Diagnostic with our team. We'll review your current state, identify your biggest gaps, and create a prioritized roadmap for improvement.

Schedule Your Diagnostic →

Haven't assessed your revenue systems yet?

Take the free 5-Minute Scorecard to benchmark your revenue operations against the five critical dimensions.

Take the Scorecard →

Key PersonRisk Checklist

Your Key Person Risk Score

What's Your Next Step?

Already taken the 5-Minute Scorecard?

Haven't assessed your revenue systems yet?

Key Person
Risk Checklist