Influence of Project Risk Management in High-Rise Building Construction on Productivity Of Workers in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Although building construction projects are some of the most dynamic, complex and risky human endeavours, the traditional building construction process is fragmented, complicated, uncertain and risk-prone. Risk in high-rise projects, which can affect the productivity, performance, quality, and budget of such projects, may be impossible to eliminate, but it can be minimized, transferred or retained. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of project risk management in high-rise building construction on productivity of workers in Abuja, Nigeria through the ranking of key risk factors and relating artisan productivity to risk perception. The study adopted a quantitative research design through survey with close-ended, self-administered questionnaires. Data was gathered from a purposive sample of 37 artisans built up through a snowballing approach and was analysed using Mean Item Score and Kendall’s tau-b Correlation. The study identified six key risk items, which included ‘Poor competence and productivity of labour’; ‘Poor coordination with subcontractor’; and ‘Payment delays’. It thus concluded that labour productivity was not significantly related to risk in high-rise projects. It was recommended that risk management in high-rise projects should focus on the Technical, Logistical, Financial and SocioPolitical risk factors. Suggested mitigation measures for these key risks include on-site testing of labour before recruitment; use of Project Managers to carry main and sub-contractors along; and use of payment bonds by clients. Further studies could focus on the influence of work height on labour productivity risk in high-rise building construction projects.