Design phase collaborative risk management factors: A case study of a green rating system in South Africa

Ojiako, U; Maseko, L; Root, D; Venkatachalam, S; Marshall, A; AlRaeesi, E and Chipulu, M (2025) Design phase collaborative risk management factors: A case study of a green rating system in South Africa. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 32(9), pp. 6268-6301. ISSN 0969-9988

Abstract

Purpose - We explore the design risk factors and associated managerial practices driving collaborative risk management for design efficacy in green building projects. By illuminating project design risk as an important project risk category in its own right, the study contributes to our understanding of optimising design efficacies for collaborative project risk management. Design/methodology/approach - The study comprises exploratory interviews conducted with 27 industry project practitioners involved in the design and delivery/implementation of Green Star-certified building projects in South Africa. Findings - The findings discursively highlight seven sources of design risk. We also identify seven specific collaborative risk management practices for design efficacy emerging from a consideration of how risk environments vary in the Green Star-certified projects, each with its own project design risk implications. Originality/value - The study advances our understanding of how collaborations emerging from particular relational yet context-specific practices can be optimised to strengthen project risk management.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: collaboration; design; risk management
Index terms: interview, South Africa, practitioner, green building, design risk, methodology, collaboration, green rating, project risk management, case study, project design, implementation, collaborative project, design phase, risk management factor, risk management
Subjects: Geography, financial risk, sustainability assessment, research methods, environmental hazards, practitioner, professional practice, contractual arrangements, management, design practice, data collection methods, risk assessment
Topics: Risk Management, Sustainability, Procurement, Geographical Context, Organizational Design, Design Practice, Roles and Professions, Cost Management, Research Practice
Descriptive scope: 4 PCTE

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