Sustainability And Risk Management In Construction Industry: An Overview

Literature Review: Construction Management

Describe about the Construction Management for Economic Growth of Country.

Construction management

Construction industry is one of the largest sector in the world. It contributes immensely in the economic growth of the country. Construction industry assist in recruiting a large number of labour and creates employment opportunity. The projects yield immense return on investment and profitability. However the sector is not free from risk and challenges. Working at construction is not free from limitations. Materials and construction waste impact on environment well-being and accelerate pollution level.  In this regard sustainability or adopting responsible measures in construction work has gained importance. Persson (2009), discussed that sustainability in construction is a vast as well as complex area which should be focussed for improving environment management and ensure well-being of people. Consumption of recourses in an ethical manner leaves a significant impact on environment. Sustainability in construction is an important step, it is considered for managing the waste produced on demolition activity, emissions from vehicles, machineries, noise pollution at the construction site that is produced by heavy vehicles and construction machineries and releases of wastes and pollutants into water, ground and atmosphere (Alsaadi and Acar, 2016).

Construction industry is challenging than any other industry according to Delnavaz (2012), every project is unique and involve high risk in management of the project. Hence adopting sustainable or ethical approaches is of immense importance in building development work. Sustainability is strictly about improving the quality of human life while managing the waste and construction material in a planned manner. Since construction domain consume a large amount of material it is the responsibility of the company to ensure that the sustainability of the society is managed in a proper way. Green building development is an important step in the sustainable construction work. It has been studied that green building uses around 36% less energy in comparison to the conventional buildings and also cause low Co2 emission. Constructing green building as discussed by Heravi (2014), is a responsible step under sustainable measure in construction domain. Green building concepts could be hence applied to new projects and efficient buildings should be developed. The benefits of green building practices include a lower as well as efficient use of energy, water and other natural resources. These buildings further ensure improved health and safety standards for the residents, as well as this construction technology reduces environmental impact, through implementation of less waste-production and environment pollution.

Sustainable Approaches in Construction Project

Sustainable building is often identified as those buildings that contribute in sustainable development. Success of a construction project largely depends on ways in which project is managed and risks are eliminated from the project work. Risk management is an important step in the construction project which help in elimination of challenges from the project work. Project requires control and risk identification approaches so that it is equipped to handle and manage issues in a systematic manner (Persson, 2009). Companies adopt key policies and procedure to manage risk in a defined manner. Under risk management the key focus is given on risk identification process. Risk identification and evaluation help in preparing the team for handling problems as and when required. There could be different types of problems that could impact on the construction work, while some disaster could be man-made others could be natural. Hence adopting risk management approaches help in identifying the issues at an early stage and controlling thus become easier (Euripides, 2008).

It is evident from the empirical research work that there are various facets of a construction project and this should be addressed in a planned manner. The survey on construction management and importance of documentation and data management has evolved as an integral part of construction project. A successful project management is possible only after apt coordination of human and material resources within the project (Yllén, 2012).

Disaster often lead to huge loss at the construction site. Natural and man-made disaster could be controlled by implementing disaster management approaches coupled with risk strategies.

Reference 1:

Rountos A. Euripides (2008), Troubled Projects in Constructions Due to

Inadequate Risk Management

The research work explores the reason behind the failure of construction projects due to inadequate risk management and also suggests effective ways of recovery. Lack of risk analysis has caused havoc at the building construction work sites. Some of the key problems that has studied here as a result of ignoring risk management are increased production cost, reduction of profit, damage brand image and even insolvency. This article has also established the fact that in the coming year’s implementation of risk management approach will help in ensuring ways in which the construction project will succeed. It has been underpinned during the course of the research that failure of implementing risk management strategies could lead to delay in project work, increase in overhead cost and market change.

Reference 2:

Risk and Challenge Management in Construction Domain

Yimam, A. (2011). PROJECT MANAGEMENT MATURITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering.

The journal studies ways in which project management has improved over the years in the construction industry of developing countries in the world. Within the course of exploring the maturity of PM the researcher has identified two main gaps that exist within the maturity model and then addresses ways of overcoming such gaps to improve building construction activity. It has been realised that the management of construction project demands special expertise and knowledge as it is different from general projects. After presenting an overview of construction project work in the economically emerging countries the analyst has culminated the discussion in an interesting manner.

Reference 3

Heravi, A. (2014). Improving Construction Management: An Investigation Into The Influences Of Effective Stakeholder Involvement On Project Quality Outcomes. Improving Construction Management: An Investigation into the Influences of Effective Stakeholder Involvement on Project Quality Outcomes.

The research work argues that several since quality is an integral aspect of business management, construction firms have adopted quality evaluation and improvement methods over the past few years. Engineers have specifically focussed on implementing quality management in construction projects. While the large firms successfully implemented the improvement management system, the general companies faced challenges while incorporating quality management system. The research further shed a light on role of stakeholder and stakeholder influence on construction project management work. Thus the study has addressed several key issues like the present level of stakeholder involvement in the planning process of the project ad also explored how far the stakeholder involvement assisted in managing and improving quality issue of the construction project.

Reference 4:

Yllén, M. (2012). Agile project management in the construction industry – An inquiry of the opportunities in construction projects. Real Estate and Construction Management.

The respective research project underpinned ways in which the project management approaches within the construction industry have changed significantly in the past few years. The researcher has introduced a new dimension in the study by referring to technological innovation and involvement in the construction industry. It is here it has been discussed that agile project management evolved from the software industry and the approach assists in managing large complex projects where products are difficult to estimate at the nascent stage.  The researcher has largely emphasised on underpinning positive effect of implementing agile approaches in the construction projects.

Reference 1:

Reference 5:

Sapuay, S. (2016). Construction Waste – Potentials and Constraints. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 35, pp.714-722.

The journal discussed that construction industry generates waste and unusual materials that pollute the environment. Contractors should be held responsible for maintaining a sanitary work environment and also focus on adopting aft measure for waste disposal. Adoption of apt approaches would help in incorporating approaches to reuse and recycle the waste to use in the development project. Hence waste management is an important area which should be specifically managed by the construction team so that the discarded materials does not pollute the environment and impact on the nature in a negative way.

Reference 6:

Alsaadi, O. and Acar, E. (2016). Using Construction Project Management Knowhow for Disaster Recovery Projects – A Synthesis of Literature.

This journal explores the issue from a unique perspective, here the researcher has investigated on an unexpected problem which may suddenly impact and cause havoc. Natural or man-made disasters have the potential of causing loss of lives, damage and property loss. Builders often suffer from havoc loss if remained unprepared and unplanned. Hence the investigation on disaster management issues in connection to the construction industry here specifically conveys various ways in which the natural calamity could impact on project and management and highlights how the team should manage such disasters.

Reference 7:

Kozlovska, M., Mackova, D. and Spisakova, M. (2016). Survey of Construction Management Documentation Usage in Planning and Construction of Building Project. Procedia Engineering, 161, pp.711-715.

The respective journal emphasises on the issue that combination of both human and material resources leads to project success. Construction process is complicated and hence every project needs to be handled carefully so that it is executed in a significant manner. It further emphasises on importance of planning and management in the construction process and discussed that documentation is an integral aspect of construction work as apt data management help in smooth work execution. It can be further understood from the journal that construction companies have focussed their attention in the apt project management through material handling.

Reference 8:

Jayasudha, K., Vidivelli, D. and Surjith, E. (2014). Risk Assessment and Management in Construction Projects. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, 5(8).

This journal has depicted that the construction of projects like bridge development is steeped in uncertainties. Uncertainty and challenges are common in construction work. Thus the site should be managed properly. Risk management is a unique approach that could help in analysing project risk. The journal also discussed ways of eliminating risk or reducing impact of risk and increase level of control. There are different types of risk which could impact on construction work. However, adaptation of effective measures help in eliminating risk and challenges from a project work. The researcher has also discussed advantages and disadvantages of risk management.

Reference 9:

Persson, U. (2009). Management of sustainability in construction works. Division of Construction Management.

From the research work it can be cited that sustainability is an integral aspect of construction project and engineers should include ethical as well as sustainable measures to reduce negative impact on the natural environment. The journal has successfully discussed sustainability in construction work, corporate sustainability and knowledge transfer. Sustainability measures help in reducing environment impact and protection of natural environment is of key importance. Sustainability in construction management aim at reducing negative impact on nature and decrease emission of Co2 and green house impact.

Reference 10:

Delnavaz, M. (2012). Project Managers’ Role in Sustainable Building Process. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

The discussion begins with focussing on green movement and how it has impacted on construction and building management work. The article has further determined the importance of developing green building to protect environment and adopt sustainable measures in a strategic way. In the light of this investigation the paper has also pointed out that sustainable building development is expensive and operational cost increases steeply. While the national economy could benefit from reducing emission and incorporate use of natural resources by sustainable buildings.

References

Alsaadi, O. and Acar, E. (2016). Using Construction Project Management Knowhow for Disaster Recovery Projects – A Synthesis of Literature.

Delnavaz, M. (2012). Project Managers’ Role in Sustainable Building Process. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Euripides, R. (2008). Troubled Projects In Constructions Due To Inadequate Risk Management. Project Management Program.

Heravi, A. (2014). Improving Construction Management: An Investigation Into The Influences Of Effective Stakeholder Involvement On Project Quality Outcomes. Improving Construction Management: An Investigation into the Influences of Effective Stakeholder Involvement on Project Quality Outcomes.

Jayasudha, K., Vidivelli, D. and Surjith, E. (2014). Risk Assessment and Management in Construction Projects. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, 5(8).

Kozlovska, M., Mackova, D. and Spisakova, M. (2016). Survey of Construction Management Documentation Usage in Planning and Construction of Building Project. Procedia Engineering, 161, pp.711-715.

Persson, U. (2009). Management of sustainability in construction works. Division of Construction Management.

Sapuay, S. (2016). Construction Waste – Potentials and Constraints. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 35, pp.714-722.

Yimam, A. (2011). Project Management Maturity In The Construction Industry Of Developing Countries. Department of Civil & Environmental.

Yllén, M. (2012). Agile project management in the construction industry – An inquiry of the opportunities in construction projects. Real Estate and Construction Management.