CEM390: Construction Risk Management

Module code: CEM390

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Irem Dikmen, email: i.dikmen@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module provides students with an understanding of project risk management processes, principles and methods. Included within the course several case studies from the global construction market and discussions by interactive sessions which will form the basis of the learning experience. A project risk management process model is provided as well as methods to identify, assess, analyse, monitor and mitigate risk in construction projects. The international context is addressed in both the taught element and the company case studies. The overall aim of the course is to provide students with knowledge to identify different sources of risk in projects, implement qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse their impact, develop risk response strategies, prepare and update risk management plans. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Understand concepts like uncertainty, risk and complexity in construction projects and use a systems view to model their impacts on project performance. 
2. Implement a dynamic risk management system, prepare and update risk management plans. 
3. Learn how to use risk assessment and analysis methods to evaluate/quantify risk in projects. 
4. Develop an understanding on alternative risk mitigation strategies and risk sharing/transfer principles in contracts.  
5. Learn about risk management maturity models and enterprise risk management practices. 

Module content

• Introduction to vocabulary of risk and risk management process models 
• Risk identification – risk breakdown structures and information models 
• Risk assessment – risk matrices and risk maps 
• Risk analysis – probabilistic techniques as well as risk rating methods 
• Risk perception and utility theory 
• Risk mitigation strategies 
• Risk monitoring and post-project risk appraisal 
• Risk communication 
• Enterprise risk management and maturity models  
• Workshops on risk identification and country risk assessment in international projects 
• Interactive sessions on case projects about risks and risk management practices in construction.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

• Learning from in class lectures and seminars.  
• Engaging in discussions during interactive sessions.  
• Engaging in activities such as group tasks in workshops.  

Study hours

At least 25 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The below information applies toall full time and flexible modularstudents on taught PGT programmes in SBE

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Feedback will be provided about groupwork during the workshops.

Reassessment

Additional costs