CQUniversity Unit Profile
BLCN28002 Construction Risk Management
Construction Risk Management
All details in this unit profile for BLCN28002 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

In Construction Risk Management you will learn the construction-specific nuances of risk management. You will also learn why standard insurance programs have unique implications for contractors and how to evaluate effective strategies for managing construction risks. Viewed through the lens of the construction risk and insurance framework, this unit provides you with an understanding of the strategies for mitigating, transferring, and insuring construction risks. You will learn how risks are commonly allocated in a construction project and how to identify variances between a contractor’s insurance coverage and the total project risks. You will gain the knowledge to monitor and identify statutory changes and judicial rulings that impact the contractor’s liabilities as well as the coverage they have in place to mitigate potential liabilities.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 8
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2023

Brisbane
Perth
Sydney

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
2. Research Assignment
Weighting: 50%
3. Online Test
Weighting: 20%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from CQU SUTE Student Unit Evaluations T2/22

Feedback

The student responded that they really enjoyed learning and attending this class.

Recommendation

The teaching team will continue to encourage all students to attend classes and actively participate with the teaching staff in the discussions and sharing of industry knowledge. This supports learning enjoyment, skills development such as communication and networking between students.

Feedback from CQU SUTE Student Unit Evaluations T2/22

Feedback

The unit is one of the most structured ones. As an idea for possible improvement I would be interested in brainstorming risk situations, on what could go wrong on site.

Recommendation

The unit is constructively aligned for student learning outcomes so that students are always clear on what is studied and how this builds knowledge for each assessment and graduate career attributes. The positive suggestion for students brainstorming on site safety and risk situations will be included for the next teaching term.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Identify and evaluate project risks and opportunities within various construction procurement contexts
  2. Critically analyse the main forces which drive business strategy as they relate to risk
  3. Identify and evaluate management strategies for mitigating, transferring, and insuring construction risk
  4. Effectively communicate business risks and their implications on insurance to various stakeholders.


Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Research Assignment - 50%
3 - Online Test - 20%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Research Assignment - 50%
3 - Online Test - 20%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Endnote
  • CQU Library hosted Literature Databases
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Bill Zhao Unit Coordinator
b.zhao@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 10 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Introduction to risk and risk management concepts

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Unit introduction, learning and teaching activities and assessment for learning.

Week 2 Begin Date: 17 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Risk management in construction projects

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Introduction to Assessment 1 (30%)

Week 3 Begin Date: 24 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Risk identification

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 31 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Qualitative risk analysis methods

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 07 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

Quantitative risk analysis methods

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Q&A for Assessment 1

Vacation Week Begin Date: 14 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

Lecture and Tutorial free week

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 1 Due: Vacation Week Friday (18 Aug 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 6 Begin Date: 21 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

Risk management through contract procurement and insurances

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Introduction to Assessment 2 (50%)

Week 7 Begin Date: 28 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

Construction health and safety risk management

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Feedback to Assessment 1

Week 8 Begin Date: 04 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Financial risk management I

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 11 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Financial risk management II

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Introduction to Assessment 3

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Enterprise risk management in construction

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 25 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Advances in construction risk management research

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 2 Due: Week 11 Thursday (28 Sept 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 12 Begin Date: 02 Oct 2023

Module/Topic

Unit Learning Revision

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Student led lecture and tutorial workshop to review and reflect on the learning and skills development in this unit.

Q&A for Assessment 3

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 09 Oct 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 3 Due: Review/Exam Week Friday (13 Oct 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 16 Oct 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Assignment 1

Task Description

Search the literature relevant to risk analysis techniques: 1) Fault tree analysis; 2) analytical hierarchy analysis; 3) structural equation modelling; 4) Bayesian belief network; and 5) system dynamics. Reliable literature includes journal articles and books.You are required to describe its function and use and discuss its advantages and disadvantages with critical thinking. 


Assessment Due Date

Vacation Week Friday (18 Aug 2023) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 7 Friday (1 Sept 2023)

Return via Moodle Unit Site


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The assignment will be assessed on quality of work submitted, relevance and coherence to the specific question and tasks. This includes clear argumentation and use of quality references (in-text and bibliography). The content prepared is to expand beyond the learning material provided and demonstrates the student's development of the unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes. Students will work with a marking rubric for self-review and receive formative and summative feedback.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Online submission via Moodle unit site

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Identify and evaluate project risks and opportunities within various construction procurement contexts
  • Critically analyse the main forces which drive business strategy as they relate to risk


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

2 Research Assignment

Assessment Title
Assignment 2

Task Description

You are required to prepare a risk management plan for a construction project, including a risk breakdown structure (RBS) and risk register. The RBS will at least 40 risks, which fall within different risk categories and impact project objectives (time, cost, quality, health and safety, etc.). The risk register will require description of consequent and casual risks, treatment measures and risk owners. 


Assessment Due Date

Week 11 Thursday (28 Sept 2023) 11:45 pm AEST

Electronic submission via Moodle Unit Site Turnitin


Return Date to Students

Review/Exam Week Thursday (12 Oct 2023)

Return via Moodle Unit Site


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

The assignment will be assessed on quality of work submitted, relevance and coherence to the specific question and tasks. This includes clear argumentation and use of quality references (in-text and bibliography). The content prepared is to expand beyond the learning material provided and demonstrates the student's development of the unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes. Students will work with a marking rubric for self-review and receive formative and summative feedback.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Online submission via Moodle unit site

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Identify and evaluate management strategies for mitigating, transferring, and insuring construction risk
  • Effectively communicate business risks and their implications on insurance to various stakeholders.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

3 Online Test

Assessment Title
Assignment 3

Task Description

Assessment 3 (20%) is an online quiz with 20 multi-choice questions. The quiz will be marked automatically by the system. The marks will be reviewed and moderated by the coordinator


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Friday (13 Oct 2023) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Monday (16 Oct 2023)


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

The quiz will be assessed according to the answers from the students. Each quiz question accounts for 1 mark. 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Online Submission via Moodle unit site

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Identify and evaluate project risks and opportunities within various construction procurement contexts
  • Critically analyse the main forces which drive business strategy as they relate to risk
  • Identify and evaluate management strategies for mitigating, transferring, and insuring construction risk
  • Effectively communicate business risks and their implications on insurance to various stakeholders.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Self-management

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?