2011 Awards for Excellence

Citation

(2012), "2011 Awards for Excellence", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 19 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ecam.2012.28619aaa.002

2011 Awards for Excellence

Article Type: 2011 Awards for Excellence From: Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Volume 19, Issue 1

The following article was selected for this year's Outstanding Paper Award forEngineering, Construction and Architectural Management

"Measuring project risk management process for construction contractors with statement indicators linked to numerical scores''Grant KululangaDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Malawi, Chichiri, MalawiWitness KuotchaDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Malawi, Chichiri, Malawi

Purpose -- There is relatively low implementation of formal project risk management methods in practice, leading to the construction industry consistently suffering from poor project performance. This study aims to ascertain the extent to which current project risk management practices are used by construction contractors in one of the countries of the sub-Saharan region -- Malawi.Design/methodology/approach -- A management process tool with statement indicators linked to numerical scores was conceived that characterised a series of steps of project risk management process. To ascertain the degree to which project risk management processes were used, a questionnaire survey was employed. Data were elicited from registered Malawian construction contractors on the elements underlining a series of steps of project risk management process as espoused by the literature. Out of 84 sampled construction contractors, 51 completed questionnaires were received.Findings -- Apart from large-sized and more experienced construction contractors, all the small and medium-sized construction contractors -- which constitute the largest proportion of the construction industry -- were characterised by a low implementation of the various required steps for the project risk management process. The application of project risk management processes was significantly influenced by the various categories of size and experience of the surveyed construction contractors at p0.01. Furthermore, contingence planning within the series of steps of project risk management process featured highly among the surveyed construction contractors. The majority of the variables under the series of steps of project risk management process were positively and significantly linked to progression in size and experience of construction contractors at p0.01.Research limitations/implications -- The study forms the basis for further research; replication of this study to other parts of the world about how the actual implementation of the series of steps of project risk management process is undertaken could yield rich lessons for the construction industry.Practical implications -- The intentional move by industry towards measuring management processes as a precursor to uncovering the root causes that underlie project success or failure to provide quick feedback for remedial action is supported by an approach such as this.Originality/value -- The originality of this paper lies in its uniqueness for a systematic approach to quantifying the project risk management processes with the view to understanding the implementation behaviours of construction contractors in one country in the sub-Saharan region.Keywords Construction industry, Malawi, Measurement, Risk management, Sub Saharan Africawww.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/09699981011056556

This article originally appeared in Volume 17 Number 4, 2010, pp. 336-51, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

The following articles were selected for this year's Highly Commended Award

"Excellent contractor performance in the UK construction industry''Dave C.A. ButcherMichael J. Sheehan

This article originally appeared in Volume 17 Number 4, 2010,Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

 

Outstanding ReviewerDr Mohammed ArifUniversity of Salford, UK