Managing Pre-Construction and Construction Risks on Project Sites in Abuja-Nigeria

Managing risks in construction projects has been acknowledged as a key direction process for the purposes of attaining the project goal in terms of time, cost, quality, safety, and environmental sustainability. Hence, the paper evaluated pre-construction and construction risks on active project sites in Abuja-Nigeria. This was achieved using survey method through the self-administration of 35 questionnaires to the professionals handling the 35 identified projects being undertaking at that time. Results showed that errors and omissions in design and improperly defined project scope had mean score values of 3.03 and 2.54, respectively, were the construction risks most experienced by the professionals during pre-construction. On the other hand, fluctuation in market prices and delays with mean score values of 3.14 and 2.74, respectively, were the construction risks experienced by the professionals during the construction phase of the projects. It is recommended that procurement methods such as construction management should be adopted and stakeholders should keep to their own side of the bargain to avoid unnecessary delays.


Introduction
The idea of risk was known in economics around 1920s [1]. Risk has been viewed from different perspectives by many groups; based on point of view, attitudes, and know-how. Engineers, architects, and contractors look at risk from the technological viewpoint [2,3]. Project risk is described as an unsure incident or event that, when it happens, may bring about positive consequence on time, cost, and quality [4][5][6]. While Klemetti [7], defined risk as an unsure happening or state that has impact that contradicts project expectations when the project is completed. Chapman and Ward [8] further opined that risks are events that can bring deviation from what is designed or anticipated.
The success of every project depends on good management [7]. Enshassi, Mohammed, and Abu-Mosa [9] showed that the management of risks is a vital problem in the development and management of some occupation ventures. Hence, if a risk is not known it cannot be managed or transferred, but to do away with all risks in projects is not viable [1]. Therefore, this necessitates official risk management development to control all forms of risks. The project achievement generally counts on bringing together all risks response schemes used to alleviate risks and a company"s potential to control them [10]. Enshassi et al. [9] believed that management of risks is an essential problem in the setting up and management of any business undertaking. Hence, the primary perception of risk management is to handle risks effectively and efficiently [11]. Simu [12] opined that effective risk management is regarded as achieving the pre-determined targets for the project by applying the obtainable tools and techniques. In a related development, when looked at from the point of process effectiveness, implementing risk management is predicated on the skill of the project team [13].

Literature Review
Risk is inbuilt in all human activities, such as construction and the risk constituents concerned are diverse, risk falls into many classes and most at times the nature of risk depends on the scenario [14]. Klemetti [7] asserted that subcontracting is becoming more elaborate because lots of companies are concentrating only on their major businesses, which leads to additional difficulty on project networks and more project participants. However, research on how the project risk management should be related to the natural world is inadequate.
Risk management in construction is a difficult undertaking as the idea is subject to change throughout the execution of the project, nature of the construc-tion process and continuation of large number of parties that are concerned in the construction [15]. According to Uher [16], risk management is a tool that aims at discovering sources of risk and uncertainty, finding their impact, and growing suitable management responses in construction. Also Mills [17] opined that the reason for risk management in construction is to raise the prospect of project objectives. Patrick, Guomin, and Jia-Yuan [18] and Enshassi et al. [9] observed that managing risks in construction projects has been acknowledged as a key direction process for the purposes of attaining the project goal in terms of time, cost, quality, safety, and environmental sustainability. However, tremendous improvement can only be achieved in project management performance when greater attention is paid to the process of analysing project risks in order to meet up with project objectives [19].
To this end, Royer [20] stated that risk management must be of significant concern to project managers, as unmanaged or unmitigated risks are one of the key causes of project breakdown. Thus, Kaoje [21] opined that risk management in construction has to do with identifying risks, evaluating them and then developing strategies to deal with them. Chapman and Ward [8] argued that organizations which have laid down risk management ability as a process, gain vital advantage over contenders. Zayed, Amer, and Pan [22] asserted that risk management could be carried out through risk identification, risk assessment, and risk mitigation.
KarimiAzari et al. [1] stated that risk analysis can provide avenue for knowing the origins of project risk and enable management to develop directed corrective action. Rouse [23] concluded that risk analysis may either be quantitative or qualitative. In quantitative risk analysis, there is effort to find out the chances of many unfavourable actions and the probable level of the losses if certain event happens. While qualitative risk analysis, involves understanding the different threats, finding the degree of exposure and making counter measures when an attack occurs. Quantitative and qualitative risk analysis techniques as outlined by Hillson [5] and Thaheem [24] include: Quantitative-cash lock-up, internal rate of return, net present value, and payback period; Qualitative-brainstorming, checklist, interview, and priority table.
According to Hillson and Murray-Webster [25] and Simu [12], the effect of risk management should have a substantial relationship to the project objectives. But, according to Bresnen and Marshall [26], these objectives are not easy to apply owing to the problems involved in disaggregating them from the effects of other project administration processes.
Klemetti [7] suggested that, the potentials for development should also be considered. The level of risk and associated opportunity are usually high during the conception and design phases when the degree of uncertainty about the future is greatest. However, as the project progresses, risk parameters are reduced and unknowns become knowns [27]. Pre-construction services are defined as those services performed prior to the actual start of construction [28]. In the context of this definition, preconstruction risks are those risks that are planned for before the commencement of projects while construction risks are those risks that are encountered during the implementation (construction) of the project. It is in this regard that this paper evaluated pre-construction and construction risks on active project sites in Abuja-Nigeria with a view to minimising the negative consequence of risk threats. Active sites in this sense meant that questions were asked in relation to the projects being undertaking when the study was conducted.
The following objectives were pursued:  To examine the risk encountered during preconstruction and construction stages  To determine how the problems that arose as a result of this risks were resolved  To determine contractor"s perspective on the effect risk management process had on their construction projects when implemented.

Research Methods
Questionnaire survey was used for the study. Collis and Hussey [29] describe a survey as a positivistic methodology that draws a sample from a larger population in order to draw conclusions about the population. Non probability convenience sampling method was adopted; this is a sampling method according to Collins, Onwuegbuzie, and Jiao [30] that involves choosing from a sample that is not only accessible but the respondents are willing to take part in the study. The study was such that the respondents were asked questions based on the projects they were found handling during the selfadministration of the questionnaires. This was why the response was limited to 35 responses; invariably 35 projects were examined. Hence, the unit of analysis was the project each respondent was found undertaking. A unit of analysis according to Collis and Hussey [29] refers to the phenomenon under study, about which data is collected and analysed. The Likert scale was analysed using the cut-off points devised by Morenikeji [31] as follows:  Table 1 indicates that 62.86% of the respondents had from 6 years and above in the construction industry. The respondents were made of architects (28.57%), builders (25.71%), structural engineers (11.43%), quantity surveyors (17.14%) and others that did not belong to those earlier mentioned (17.14%). This is an indication that the responses of these professionals can be relied upon because of their years of experience and their professional qualification. Table 2 shows th.at more than half of the respondents are involved in residential type of construction. Table 3 shows th.at 62.86% of the respon.dents used qualitative analysis method which may include interview and brainstorming while the remaining 37.14% of the respondents used quantitative analysis method which may include scenario and sensitivity analyses. This means that majority of the respondents use qualitative analysis method while analysing preconstruction and construction risks. This may be due to the seemingly less mathematical expressions involved in this method when compared with the quantitative approach.
From Table 4, errors and omissions in design under design risk has the highest mean score (MS) of 3.03, followed by interaction of design with method of construction having MS of 1.49. . From the analysis errors and omissions in design is ranked highest which means it is the risk that most respondents encountered during pre-construction stage. A benefit of adopting construction management as a procurement system is the early involvement of the contractor in the planning stages of a project as this will make the client to be able to utilise the contractor construction expertise in all aspects of the design and planning [28].
From From Table 7, "The outcome after the application was favourable and prevented excess loss" ranked highest with MS of 4.51; "Application of risk management process ensured that the project had a better chance of yielding profit rather than loss" has MS value of 4.29. Some of the risks could not be avoided and hence lead to losses though were insignificant has MS value of 3.63 and lastly, "Some of the risks were transferred" has MS value of 3.46. From the analysis, the respondents could be deemed to agree to the possible outcome after applying risk management process to their construction projects based on the cut-off points devised.
Respondents" comments on how the risks encountered during pre-construction were resolved  Contingency (sum) is allotted to such unforeseen risk, such that the burden of the risk will not totally deflect the profit margin of the project.  The problem of errors and omissions in design were resolved using knowledge of similar work done as well as knowledge of the relevant laws guiding the area. Also, using direct labour system helped in reducing cost and misuse of materials.  By making sure there is an understanding between the client and us. Discussing about liable risks, and making sure that all the stakeholders are involved during the planning stage.  Further consultations and making new and applicable decisions.
Respondents" comments on how the risks encountered during construction were resolved  Proper site management of the site during the construction stage was adopted. Also, a portion of the risk which is transferable was transferred to other parties in the project.  Insurance was provided to handle life and other physical risks as regards personnel on site. Provision and approval were made to manage material price fluctuation with reference to the distance from the point of purchase.  A contingency sum is set aside for fluctuation in market prices. The client is always advised to clearly stick with the agreed terms of cash in-flow in order to reduce the risk of delays.  The problem of financial risks was solved by the terms and conditions in the contractual documents signed by both parties. The problems of accidents was solved by ensuring the third party insurance automatically takes care of the victims. Logistical issues were also taken care of by suppliers because they are responsible for materials not yet on site by the agreement

Conclusion
The paper evaluated pre-construction and construction risks on active project sites in Abuja-Nigeria. Thirty-five projects were examined; there were 23 residential projects representing 54.8%, 9 commercial projects representing 21.43% while industrial and public utility bring up the rear consisting of 5 projects each representing 11.9%. During the preconstruction phase, it was discovered that the construction risks experienced the most by the respondents under design, estimating, tendering, tender evaluations risks were errors and omissions in design ( respectively. The respondents alluded to the fact that after adopting the risk management process, the outcome was favourable and it ensured that the projects had better yielding profits rather than loss. Based on these results, it could be inferred that it was not likely that buildability and maintainability analysis was carried out in any of the projects hence the errors and omissions in design and the incomplete information found in the estimating. There was also the possibility of not paying the contractors on time by the clients hence the delays recorded in the projects. The following are however suggested:  Buildability and maintainability report should be made mandatory in all projects as this will limit many of the pre-construction risks experienced.  Using procurement method such as construction management, errors and omissions in design, inadequate information details, and specifying the wrong requirements will be minimised since the contractor will be brought early enough into the project unlike the traditional procurement system.  All the stakeholders should ensure that they keep to their own side of the bargain in order to reduce delays.