Bufaied, A S (1987) Risks in the construction industry: Their causes and their effects at the product level. PhD thesis, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, UK.
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine construction risks at the project level. It seeks to identify the major risk variables and to examine their primary cause (which it sees as the activities of management) and their effect on project performance, assessed in terms of time, cost and quality. For this purpose it sets out these variables in a system causal model. Eighty-two variables are identified, classified into six risk subsystems and placed in causal relationship.The study had three stages. The first made use of methodologies of system, risk management and causation. The literature was carefully studied to examine the concepts of risk and uncertainty, risk management, management and project management, both in industry in general and in construction in particular.The second stage led to the building of a model. The six risk subsystems were developed into separate causal models and then combined into one, that is a conceptual system causal model.The third stage was concerned with practical testing of the theories put forward and incorporated in the model. This was done by seeking the opinion of construction project managers both in the U.K. and abroad. A detailed questionnaire was devised and sent to a large number of them. There was a very pleasing level of response. The answers were submitted to statistical analysis which is discussed in the thesis. Its most important concern was to assess quantitatively the strength of the causal links in the model.Given that the model is theoretical, literature research represents the core of the study. This is reflected by the over 670 references which have been consulted.It is hoped that the comprehensive model constructed by the study will prove useful in three ways: in assessing the role of a project manager, particularly relating to risk; as a practical guide in the construction industry; and as a basis for further research.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Pilcher, R |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | uncertainty; construction project; risk management; UK; project performance; statistical analysis; project manager |
| Index terms: | construction project, methodology, questionnaire, manager, risk management, project performance, construction industry, testing, project management, project manager, statistical analysis |
| Subjects: | risk assessment, profession, data collection methods, practitioner, data science, professional practice, research methods, project management theory and practice, production management, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Risk Management, Project Management, Research Practice, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here