Reducing hindrances to enterprise risk management implementation in construction firms

Abstract

Although enterprise risk management (ERM) has been advocated in the construction industry, its implementation is still plagued with hindrances. The objectives are to identify the critical hindrances to ERM implementation in Chinese construction firms (CCFs) and investigate the interrelationships among these critical hindrances. To achieve the objectives, 36 hindrances were identified through a literature review and a questionnaire survey was performed with 119 respondents. The results indicated that 20 hindrances were deemed critical, among which insufficient resources (e.g., time, money, and people) was ranked top. Additionally, the critical hindrances were categorized into lack of relevant resources and procedures (LRRP), lack of senior-level support and leadership (LSSL), and lack of high-quality data (LHQD). LSSL contributed to LRRP, whereas LRRP resulted in LHQD. The managerial implications drawn from these results can help the management take measures to overcome them. Although this study is focused on CCFs, other firms may use the identified hindrances and follow the method to prepare their customized list of hindrances.