Downside Risks in Construction Projects Developed by the Civil Service: The Case of Spain
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 132, Issue 8
Abstract
The purpose of the work summarized here was to improve the efficiency of the construction project management processes performed by the Spanish civil service, identifying and analyzing the main risks in these kinds of projects, and also establishing potential risk responses. The scope of this effort included a list of 96 risk events, categorized and prioritized first by impact, then by frequency. The most relevant ones are related to issues such as an inadequate prequalification system, insufficient training of public servants, or political considerations prevailing over real needs, among others. A total of 117 potential risk responses were identified, categorized, and prioritized by potential efficiency and difficulty of implementation. Each risk event was associated to a set of potential responses. The paper includes the top 15 risk events with its main potential responses, including qualitative assessments. A survey was carried out among Spanish public servants working in construction projects, to validate risk identification and to obtain a qualitative assessment. Moreover, a Delphi analysis was developed to validate the risk response identification and obtain a qualitative assessment. One of the conclusions is that small and medium-sized Spanish civil service agencies should work toward increasing their maturity in managing projects and, mainly, project risks.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to acknowledge the Ministerio de Fomento (Spanish Ministry of Public Works), and Xunta de Galicia (Regional Government of Galicia, Spain), for supporting this project. They would like to thank Mr. Alberto Castro, P.E., Ferrol Municipality (La Coruña, Spain), for his help in analyzing the Spanish public sector, and in establishing the risk database draft; Mr. José Irisarri (London, United Kingdom), Consultant and former British Railways Project Manager, Mr. Richard Eyles (Corporate Procurement Manager, Southampton City Council), and Mr. Andy Sanger (Highways Engineering Manager, Southampton City Council), for their help in studying the United Kingdom sector; Ms. Amalia Mandon (Toulouse, France), MBA, for making arrangements to prepare interviews in that country, Mr. Lino Ameneiro, P.E., Fene Municipality (La Coruña, Spain); Professor Chris Chapman (University of Southampton, United Kingdom), Dr. David Hillson (Director, Risk Doctor & Partners, United Kingdom), Mr. Allan Webb (Alan J. Webb Consultancy, United Kingdom), and two anonymous reviewers, for the interesting comments made while this work was being carried out. They would also like to acknowledge all the professionals in Spain, France, and the United Kingdom who collaborated in the analysis of the various national sectors, in preparing the database draft, and taking part in the survey and Delphi analysis.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 132 • Issue 8 • August 2006
Pages: 844 - 852
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Mar 1, 2004
Accepted: Oct 5, 2005
Published online: Aug 1, 2006
Published in print: Aug 2006
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