ABH422 Construction and Risk Management

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This fourth year unit builds on the basic and intermediate knowledge, skills and understanding already gained in earlier units of the course. The unit is set within the real-world scenario of a medium-sized construction company that is trying to manage risk and improve business growth and profitability. Students will learn about contemporary and best practice risk management theory, tools and techniques applicable in a construction and built environment context.The learning in this unit is provided by study and practice using real-world case-studies and tools and techniques, some within a computer-based setting, that simulate the challenges, problems, issues and solutions that students will face in professional industries.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Research and critically appraise the key influences of risk on construction projects.
2. Collaboratively work as a small team using risk management software to identify, analyse and mitigate risks.
3. Critically analyse the cultural, political, and historical perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, stakeholder and diverse social groups as they relate to construction, and apply this analysis to the ethical design of a construction risk management plan.
4. Develop a construction risk management plan for a medium-sized construction project.
5. Professionally communicate the outcomes and recommendations of risk management decisions.

Learning Approaches

This unit adopts a blended learning approach which includes a mixture of pre-recorded lectures and weekly tutorials which are designed to help you understand and apply lecture materials. You are expected to undertake private study outside of class including preparation for in-class activities.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

1. Rubrics provided to show the expected standard for each criteria in an assessment item.
2. Feedback on formative assessment.
3. Tutorial / consultation sessions may be available for group and individual feedback prior to assessment due dates and on completion of assessments.
4. General comments provided during learning activities and after assessment feedback. 

Assessment

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Case Study Scoping Report

You will need to prepare a Case Study Scoping Analysis to identify the key risks and stakeholder interests associated with topical real-world styled case study of a mid-sized construction project that impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, stakeholders and diverse social groups.

For this assignment you will need to draw upon what you have learned in the lectures, tutorial content and readings from Weeks 1 to 5.

Your scoping analysis will need to include:

1. Overview of the proposal and construction methodology
2. Baseline analysis of the surrounding locality, including key socio-economic characteristics.
3. Identification of stakeholders, their influence and interests in the project
4. Identification of key influences of risk to construction that will need to be mitigated in construction risk management plan (Assessment 2).
5. Maps, figures and statistics to support your analysis

The quality of this analysis will inform decision making in assessing and mitigating risks to be documented in the group Assessment 2. This analysis is limited to 2000 words so you must decide what is the essential information that must be prioritised.

The submission is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

Assessment: Construction Risk Management Plan

You will develop a detailed Construction Risk Management plan for a topical real-world styled case study selected in Assessment 1. This assignment will be undertaken in small groups derived from your Tutorial classmates and will build upon your individual work in Assessment 1.

Your plan will need to include:

1. Summary of the case study (building on the work in Assignment 1)
2. A stakeholder impact analysis (building on the work in Assignment 1), to critically analyse the key social and cultural risks and potential impacts
3. A quantitative (using risk management software) and qualitative risk model which integrates schedule, cost, and other risks
4. Recommendations on how to manage the identified social, cultural, schedule, cost and other risks, mitigate residual risks and/or improve project risk/cost/schedule efficiencies. 

The submission is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

Assessment: Construction Risk Management Interview

In this assessment, you will individually defend your Assessment 2 Construction Risk Management Plan to a mock Construction Leadership committee. The committee will be provided with a copy of your Assessment 2 and be briefed on your case study in advance of the assessment. The committee will ask your questions to dive deeper into the content of the plan and your contribution, and your knowledge and understanding of the course content. The questions will focus on how the Construction Risk Management Plan has identified, analysed and mitigated the risks associated with the case study project.

This is a Verified Identity Assessment, and your physical attendance is required for the presentation. 

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Course Learning Outcomes

AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)

1. Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
   Relates to: Case Study Scoping Report, Construction Risk Management Plan
2. Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
   Relates to: Case Study Scoping Report, Construction Risk Management Plan, Construction Risk Management Interview
3. Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
   Relates to: Construction Risk Management Plan, Construction Risk Management Interview
4. Plan, develop and complete research and other projects.
   Relates to: Case Study Scoping Report, Construction Risk Management Plan
5. Strategically collaborate with diverse stakeholders and communities, including First Nations peoples.
   Relates to: Construction Risk Management Plan, Construction Risk Management Interview
6. Reflect on feedback and experience, and display professional and ethical judgment and initiative.
   Relates to: Construction Risk Management Plan, Construction Risk Management Interview