A dual-risk perspective: Conflict of interest between engineering and business risk management

Purpose – The construction industry faces a unique dual-risk challenge stemming from the intersection of engineering and business risk management. The purpose of this study is to analyse conflicts between engineering risk management and business priorities in civil engineering companies where managers hold dual roles as engineering managers. Design/methodology/approach – Using a quantitative survey of 32 civil engineering professionals, 45 risk factors categorised into engineering, internal, external, and organisational risks were assessed. SPSS and MATLAB software were used for data analysis in this study. By applying a structured overall risk score methodology, the study prioritises these risks and highlights the inherent tension between engineering rigour and business imperatives. Findings – The findings show that financial and organisational risks, particularly those related to funding limitations and cost pressures, are prioritised more highly than several technical and safety-related risks. This indicates that business considerations tend to dominate risk perception in dual-role management contexts, highlighting the presence of conflicts of interest in construction risk management. Originality/value – This study provides quantitative evidence of divergence between engineering and business risk priorities in civil engineering firms and offers an integrated framework for analysing conflicts of interest in construction risk management.