Risk Management in Multimedia Production: Identifying and Overcoming Creative Project Challenges

Multimedia production projects combine creative practice, technical complexity, tight schedules, and multiple stakeholder expectations—conditions that elevate project risk. This article examines risk management in multimedia production with a focus on identifying common creative-project challenges and proposing strategies to mitigate them. Using a qualitative meta-synthesis approach—drawing on published case studies, industry reports, and academic literature—the study develops a thematic understanding of risk types (artistic, technical, organisational, financial, and contextual) and presents a practical framework that integrates risk management principles with creativity-supportive practices. Theoretical foundations include project risk theory (PMI/PMBOK), contingency theory, and creativity and innovation theories (Amabile; Csikszentmihalyi). Findings yield seven core themes: ambiguous scope and shifting requirements; technology and interoperability failures; talent and team dynamics; time and budget pressures; intellectual property and legal risk; stakeholder misalignment; and external/contextual disruptions. For each theme, the article proposes targeted mitigation strategies—combining proactive risk identification, iterative development, flexible governance, psychological safety, and continuous stakeholder engagement. The paper concludes with methodological reflections, implications for practitioners, and directions for future empirical research. Keywords: multimedia production, risk management, creative projects, qualitative synthesis, project governance, thematic analysis