2949775136

Ostrava 8. - 9. zan 2010

5. mezinarodm konference Rfzenf a modelovdnf finanćnfch rizik VSB-TU Ostrava, Ekonomicka fakulta, katedra Financf

Figurę 2: Risk Identification methods in construction companies in Poland - survey research

Source: Author's own elaboration based on: [17].

1    - risk analysis conducted by experts

2    - brainstorming

3    - ready-to-use check lists

4    - interviews with main project participants

5    - field visits

6    - business intelligence

7    - public debate

In particular, the figurę 2 presents the results of the empirical studies carried out among 25 contractors, out of 100 leading construction and assembly companies in Poland, where as many as 68% of the companies point at brainstorming. In the respondents’ opinions, it brings the best results when identifying potential risk sources directly on construction sites. Moreover, its popularity results from the numerous advantages it offers. The second most freąuently used risk identification techniąue is an interview with key participants of projects (48% of the respondents). In practice, discussions are held between the representatives of the generał contractor and their potential sub-contractors as well as other business partners and suppliers of Utilities and construction equipment. Further on, the contractors participating in the research indicated the following: 18% of them carry out field visits on construction sites in order to identify risks (in practice, this is done by employees with long work history and a lot of experience, who have participated in similar projects before); 24% of the contractors make use of business intelligence, 7% of the respondents hire third party experts on risks (so far, an independent profession of risk manager has not been established in Poland in the construction industry); only 2 contractors used check lists; also, only 2 contractors used a public debate in their business practice. Conseąuently, these are the most popular risk identification methods in the construction industry in Poland. As „(...) a risk problem is an indispensable element of a modern company’s business activity”[13], construction companies in Poland (as well as worldwide) also use, to a lower extent, other risk identification methods and techniąues (Tab. 1), for example, holistic methods. Among these methods, there is e.g. a risk picture analysis. „The risk picture analysis involves drawing a picture which presents, in a holistic way, a project situation, as seen by its analysts”[14]. „This picture shows the structure of the project, i.e. its elements and relationships among these elements, processes conducted during the project and so-called soft elements, i.e. elements of the project which concem people, their attitude to the project, feelings, emotions, conflicts etc.”[14]. This techniąue is easy to use and understandable and it doesn’t reąuire any highly specialised knowledge but just a ‘fully understanding’ look at the investment project. Likewise, cause and effect diagrams, e.g.