Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
managed well. Managing means looking ahead: if the main risks with which
the project might be confronted are mapped out beforehand, all the measures
against this can also be taken; the project organization for example can insure
against damage which occurs during construction; or a project organization
can obtain information beforehand about all the permits required to imple-
ment the project and about the time involved for applying and issuing permits.
The management of time, money and quality related risks were particularly
of great importance for NV Westerscheldetunnel: the earlier the tunnel was
completed, the earlier the income from charging a toll would come in, with
which the costs of the investment could be recouped. In addition, a lot of
attention was given to the quality aspects - related to the requirement of a
minimum life span of 100 years.
General starting points of project management are:
- good preparation based on risk analyses and risk management is of cru-
cial importance for the organization of the project; first of all the risks
must be mapped out. Only when these risks are identified, is it possible
for the organization to be set up;
- commercial awareness - being well informed about what specifically the
contract means - is of crucial importance for the success of a project;
- so that surprises do not occur during the implementation, good
co-operation between subprojects and the various disciplines is of essen-
tial importance. A mega project such as the WesterscheldeTunnel requires
a multidisciplinary approach;
- a project is carried out by people; their safety during the implementation
comes before everything else;
- the quality of the final product stands or falls on the quality of the per-
sonnel. Making savings here is at the expense of the final result;
- the progress of a project is helped by a problem solving attitude, aimed
at co-operation;
- the aims of an organization should be simple: time, budget, result and
quality.
Risman method
Risk management is certainly not the exclusive sphere of activity of the risk
manager. It is true that he is the one who draws up the risk profile of a pro-
ject, he collates, orders and statistically processes data, informs all the par-
ties involved and keeps the process going, but being alert to everything
which might endanger the progress of a project is a matter for everybody
involved in the project.
In the WesterscheldeTunnel project, the RISMAN method was used to analyse
and manage the risks. This method makes it possible to give insight into the
main risks with which a project can be confronted.The RISMAN method makes
it possible to process the risks statistically and to quantify them. Although
mapping out the risks does not mean that they go away, it does provide a
handle for taking adequate management measures: risk management.
Cyclic process
Risk management plays a role at all the stages of a project. It is a cyclic
process which is constantly gone through during the project.
Every stage of a project starts with a risk analysis. This analysis makes it
clear what risks can occur in the project, which could interrupt the progress
of the project. The risks are mapped out systematically and from various
points of view for the entire project process.This not only involves technical
risks but also aspects of a political, legal and organizational nature which
could form a threat to the project. Once all the possible problem areas have
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