RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: THE RELEVANCE OF HUMAN FACTORS

1. School of Civil Engineering RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: THE RELEVANCE OF HUMAN FACTORS Research Student – VICKNAYSON THEVENDRAN Supervisor – Dr. M. J. MAWDESLEY RESEARCH METHODOLOGY “Man not materials, forms the decisive factor” Mao Tse Tung Problem Discovery Exploratory Study BACKGROUND • It is almost axiomatic in construction management that designs, materials, labour, equipment and control parameters constitute a successful construction project. However the underlying reason for the successful and unsuccessful implementation of these factors is the human element, which tends to be ignored. This has led to the development of this research project. This project incorporates the effects of human factors into the risk management process. Problem Definition Data Collection & Analysis Explanatory Study Model & Model Testing THE AIM The main objective of this research project is to investigate the relationships between human factors using risk management principles and soft system fundamentals, with the intention of developing a model that can be used as a decision support system to evaluate human factors. Writing-Up FORECAST OUTCOMES • Identification of the limitations of Risk Management when dealing with human factors. • Identification of human uncertainties that affect construction projects. • Mapping the relationships of human factors using soft-system techniques. • The development of a model that will function as a decision support system to determine the effects of core human factors in construction projects. • November 2001-2004 ( Phd Research )