Risks and Projects Phases

Introduction

The central theme of this chapter is the nature and role of risks in each phase of PPP projects. Perhaps, paradoxically, a good deal of attention is given to the formulation and implementation of a PPP project, for each which will become clear as well proceeds. Most notably because the focus and content PPP projects are deeply engrained with risk that has fundamentally changed the landscape of PPP implementation in the last few years. Three main themes dominate the discussion in this chapter: the selecting, planning and designing phase, the procurement and contractual design choice phase, and the construction/service delivery phase. The importance of this topic for the achievement of successful PPP project cum effective and efficient service delivery should not be underestimated. High value production and quality service consumptions are PPP-driven processes and the conditions and contexts in which projects are incepted, procured and implemented in the contemporary world of rapidly changing wants and needs. It has to be clear from the outset, that, as a general rule, risk management in PPP should not be directed at reaching a point of satisfaction without due consideration of the critical phases of PPP project development. Rather, the central concern should be with inception and development of PPP project process to suit the needs of the parties and prospects of success. As shall be seen these are non-trivial tasks. Even imitation or adaptation far from the technological frontier can require major investment in organizations and capabilities.

Typically, as noted earlier, many projects fail because of choices made in the early stages of development. According to Crompton, Goulding and Pour (2014), a poorly designed project-delivery approach or the wrong decisions about procurement can also lead to delays, higher costs, and diminished returns. Thus, Akintoye and Main (2007) contend that project risk management has to be a core element of project selection, planning, and design, and it has to be continuous across the entire life cycle of the project. Alashwal, Rahman and Beksin (2011) recommends that for each stage of a project, there are important questions that need to be asked on five central areas of forward-looking risk assessment, risk ownership, risk-adjusted process, risk governance and risk culture. On the forward-looking risk assessment, the questions should be which risks is the project facing? What is the potential cost of each of these risks? What are the potential consequences for the project’s later stages as a result of design choices made now?. While questions for risk ownership should be which stakeholders are involved and which risks should the different stakeholders own? And what risk-management issues do each of the stakeholders face, and what contribution to risk mitigation can each of them make? The questions that should be asked for risk-adjusted processes are what are the root causes of potential consequences, and through which risk adjustments or new risk processes might they be mitigated by applying life-cycle risk-management principles? On risk governance the questions to ask is how can individual accountability and responsibility for risk assessment and management be established and strengthened across all lines of defense? For the risk culture asks what are the specific desired mind-sets and behaviors of all stakeholders across the life cycle and how can these be ensured. The phases are looked at in turn.