Causal relationship framework between risk factors and project performance in design build construction projects in Malaysia / Sabihah Saaidin

The issue of low performance in design build (DB) projects is a common phenomenon
nowadays. Risk identification is a critical phase of project risk management which
involves not just identifying individual risks but also the interrelationship among these
risks. Previous studies have mostly focus on the identified risks through individual risk
ranking by using risk matrix. Risks factors should not be segmented and managed
independently because risks are dynamic and highly interdependent. Nonetheless a
network of various risk path which represents the causal relationship among the risks,
has been recognized as a better way to reflect the real conditions of construction projects
than using just risk checklists. In this research, a considerable effort was made towards
the establishment of a causal relationship framework of Risk Factors and Project
Performance (RISPER) in DB construction projects. In the process of developing and
validating the RISPER framework, four research objectives were outlined and three
stages involved in this research. Stage I; data were collected through a questionnaire
survey which focused on the objective (1) to explore risk factors in DB projects. Stage
II; structured interview with case DB projects were conducted which focused on the
objective (2) to identify the risk factors affecting the project performance in real DB
projects. Stage III; objective (3) to establish a causal relationship framework between
the risk factors and the performance of DB construction projects and finally objective
(4) to validate the causal relationship framework established between risk factors and
the DB construction project performance using Partial Least Square (PLS) Structural
Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis. In the findings from objectives one and two
showed that in individual risk factor the financial problems are main factors as the most
critical affect to the project performance in DB projects. Then, the confirmatory factor
analysis result from objective three revealed that the design factor; financial factor;
information factor and legal and regulation factor; have given significant and negative
impact on project performances. The validation from 12 experts also agreed that the
four risk factors influence low project performance in DB project in Malaysia. Further,
the time performance was found to be most critical in DB project in Malaysian
construction project. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge in design build
risk analysis, and the findings also enable stakeholder to prioritise the most influential
factors in regards to project performance from front-end planning for DB projects.