Title: Managing risk and uncertainty in an agile construction environment: application of agile building specialist model

Authors: Adekunle Sabitu Oyegoke, Malik M.A. Khalfan, Peter McDermott, Michael Dickinson

Addresses: Salford Centre for Research and Innovation (SCRI), University of Salford, 4th Floor, Maxwell Building, Greater Manchester M5 4WT, UK. ' Salford Centre for Research and Innovation (SCRI), University of Salford, 4th Floor, Maxwell Building, Greater Manchester M5 4WT, UK. ' Salford Centre for Research and Innovation (SCRI), University of Salford, 4th Floor, Maxwell Building, Greater Manchester M5 4WT, UK. ' Salford Centre for Research and Innovation (SCRI), University of Salford, 4th Floor, Maxwell Building, Greater Manchester M5 4WT, UK

Abstract: The study focuses on managing risk and uncertainty in construction project due to the owner dissatisfaction in project outcome and dynamism within agile construction environment. The aim of the paper is to examine the agility gap created by risk and uncertainty in the supply chain processes through procurement routes. The paper identifies some areas in supply chain processes which are prone to greater risks and uncertainty and proposes an agile management principle based on the concept of integration and fragmentation in product development and execution processes respectively, resulting in agile specialists| involvement. The paper is based on extensive literature review and a comprehensive single case study of 3-office block complex in Finland. The paper concludes that the involvement of the agile specialists mitigates against risks and uncertainty, enhances the project quality and permits a modular approach to design that permits the use of experts| knowledge in design and construction. The proposed model serves as an agile management tool in preventing both predictable and unpredictable external and internal project changes through the early involvement of agile specialists and their integrated attributes in product development through to construction and project startup.

Keywords: risk management; agility; organisation; procurement; Finland; agile construction; expert knowledge; agile building specialists; construction projects; supply chain risk; supply chain uncertainty; supply chain management; SCM; agile management; product development; execution processes.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2008.021212

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, 2008 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.248 - 262

Published online: 11 Nov 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article