Risk in Construction (ABPL90035)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 1
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Organised as an advanced seminar, the subject exposes students to the various dimensions of risk management at different levels in a specific internal and external environment. Enabling them to establishing the contexts; identity, analyse and evaluate the risks; and select the best risk treatment options all according to Australian and International Standards.
The content of this subject ranges from studies of theoretical risk analysis techniques through real examples from industry, given emphasis on the various risk management strategies and approaches, decisions and options that leaders and managers in construction industry may assume to risk. At an organisational strategic level, the different perspectives of diverse stakeholders in the property development and construction process are considered (i.e. clients, developers, consultants, designers, contractors, tenants, financiers and authorities).
The subject also examines some of the ways in which stakeholders might assess and allow for risk through contingencies, allowances and margins. The reliance on specialised subcontractors is also studied from a risk management perspective. Case studies centring on risk at site, corporate and industry levels are extensively used in the subject to develop students’ analytical and research capacity in the topic by real scenarios.

Intended learning outcomes

 



  • Build an appreciation of the sources and impacts of risk in construction;
  • Provide the generic processes and associated theories, principles and tools to manage risk in construction in a holistic manner;
  • Understand qualitative and quantitative methods in analysing risk; and
  • Provide generic risk management strategies at site and corporate levels in construction.

Generic skills

At the completion of the subject students should have developed the following skills and capabilities:

  • Ability to appreciate the sources and impacts of common risk factors in construction;
  • Ability to understand analytical methods and tools to analyze risk;
  • Ability to propose risk mitigation strategies to manage, identified and evaluated risk factors;
  • Basic ability to design and construct risk management systems at project and corporate levels.

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

Students must meet one of the following prerequisite options:

Option 1

Admission into one of the following:

  • Admission into or selection of one of the following:
    • 200pt Program course entry point in the MC-CM Master of Construction Management
    Admission into or selection of one of the following:
    • 300pt Program course entry point in the MC-ARCHCM Master of Architecture/Master of Construction Management

Option 2

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

702-668 Project Risk, Quality and Procurement

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Assignment 1: individual assignment focusing on the identification and evaluation of risk in relation to a hypothetical project from the perspective of a specific project stakeholder

  • 1000 words
Week 520%

Assignment 2: group assignment a professional report, involving researching and analysing the risk management structure and impact of the identified risks on a real or a hypothetical construction project. Students are also asked to provide recommendations on how these could have been avoided, 2000 words per each member of the group.

  • 2000 words (each)
Week 1140%

Examination focusing on risk management theories and a wide range of issues relating risk management in construction covered during the semester

  • 2 hours
Hurdle requirement: A minimum mark of 40% has to be achieved in the examination in order to pass this subject.		During the examination period40%

Attendance

Hurdle requirement: A minimum 75% attendance at all class sessions, including tutorials and lectures		N/A

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    Principal coordinatorPaulo Vaz Serra
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours3 hours per week (1X2 hour lecture and 1X1 hour tutorial)
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025
    Last self-enrol date14 March 2025
    Census date31 March 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025
    Assessment period ends27 June 2025

    Semester 1 contact information

    Paulo Vaz-Serra

    p.vazserra@unimelb.edu.au

Time commitment details

170 Hours

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Additional delivery details

This subject may run biennally from 2015.

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    Recommended texts and other resources

    1. Course materials.
    2. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, 4th ed, Project Management Institute, 2008.
    3. J.R. Turner, The Handbook of Project Based Management, McGraw-Hill, 1998.
    4. C.F Gray and E.W. Larson, Project Management: The Managerial Process, McGraw-Hill, 2005.
  • Related Handbook entries

    This subject contributes to the following:

    TypeName
    Specialisation (formal)Project Management
  • Available through the Community Access Program

    About the Community Access Program (CAP)

    This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.

    Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants

    Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.

  • Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 4 March 2025