Communication and consultation is an interactive process which requires the risks to be communicated to all project stakeholders. This stage of the RM process involves giving and receiving information on how risks are being or are to be managed in the project. This is done after completing all the other stages mentioned above in the RMP and the project team is also informed about the
positions of the risks, how they would affect the project and which ones are the significant ones (Hilson, 2009).
Communication and consultation thus should be appropriately done so that it contains information of each stage of the RMP and it should also involve both internal and external stakeholders. It is therefore necessary that this stage should be planned as an ongoing activity addressing not just the process but also any issues that may arise. Good governance requires decision making that is accountable and transparent and to ensure accountability of the process, it is important that the documentation should indicate the decisions that were made and the actions taken or that are to be taken. Thus all RM activities undertaken at all different stages of the process must be well recorded and stored in a way that enables them to be viewed and retrieved easily (WCO Compendium,2001).
2.7 Chapter Summary
The chapter has covered the various research findings by different authors in relation to the subject risk. It can be stated that for every risk, there is an impact and the probability of it occurring. Chapter two has also stated why projects in general are risky. This is as a result of their nature, design and context; these three characteristics are inherent in the project. Chapter two has also shown the application of the RMP plus some of the tools and techniques used in this process.
CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The chapter states how the research was conducted in pursuit to the achievement of the set objectives. It further explains the various steps that were undertaken in the research design, theoretical framework, philosophy, data collection techniques and analysis.
3.1 Research Purpose
Research is undertaken for many purposes but with an aim of developing knowledge in a particular field. Reading “Research Methods For Business Students” by Saunders, he states there are three purposes for research namely exploratory, explanatory and descriptive (Saunders, 2009).
The Exploratory study is a valuable way of research of finding out ‘what is happening; seeking new insights plus asking questions in order to assess phenomena in a new light’. A Descriptive study is carried out in order ‘to portray an accurate profile of persons, events or situations’ (Robson 2002). Whilst an Explanatory study is a study carried out to establish the relationships between variables. In this study, the emphasis is on studying a situation or a problem in order to give an explanation of the relationships among variables (Saunders, 2009).
For this research paper, the main purpose is explanatory because it is establishing the relationship of variables. The research also answers why the use of RM determines project success. This research is also exploratory because of the researchers interest in the topic of risk hence would want to get a better understanding of this subject in order to put across the concept of RM particulary the housing projects.
3.2 Research Design
Research design is described as the art of planning the research. This is done by outlining techniques in which the researcher will answer the research questions. Saunders, concurs with this and further states that the research design should contain clear objectives which are derived from the research questions. These should specify the sources from which the intended data is to be collected from and it should also consider the constraints that the researcher will face in collecting the data. Some of the constraints that will inevitably be faced are for instance access to data, time, location, money as well as discussing ethical issues (Saunders, 2009).
A research design can also be defined as an integrated report that provides an explanation of the decisions that will be involved in the planning of the research project (Blaikie, 2009). Whilst Robson, cited in Saunders simply defines it as the conversion of the research questions into a research project (Saunders, 2009). Choosing an appropriate research design is thus very critical act for a research. Thus this research was designed to establish the risk management process applied by Malawi Housing Corporation in their housing projects.
3.3 Research Strategy
There are seven research strategies namely ethnography, experiment, case study, survey, action research, grounded theory and archival research (Saunders, 2009). From these seven, the case study will be used for this research.
A case study is a practical inquiry that investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real life context using numerous sources of evidence. It is concerned with how things happen and why, thus allowing the investigation of appropriate realities and also the differences between what was planned and what actually occurred. A case study is not intended to study the entire organization but rather focuses on a particular issue (Noor, 2008). This is the preferred methodology when the researcher seeks to find information by asking the ‘how’ or ‘why’ or ‘what’ questions or when it is very difficult to have control over events.
3.4 Research Philosophy
Research philosophy consists of three major research philosophies namely; Ontology, Epistemology and Axiology. Ontology is a branch of philosophy that studies the nature of reality or being (Saunders, 2009). Linked to ontology because of its consideration of what constitutes reality, epistemology considers views about the most appropriate ways of enquiring into the nature of the world. This is according to Easterby-Smith, Thorpe and Jackson in their book written in 2008, titled “Management Research”, cited in “Research Philosophies – Importance and Relevance”. Epistemology is thus the researcher’s view in regards to what constitutes acceptable knowledge (Flowers, 2009). Whilst with Axiology, it is a branch of philosophy that studies the judgments about value (Saunders, 2009).
3.5 Research Paradigms
These philosophies are interpreted together with paradigms. Research paradigms are referred to as the theoretical framework that is distinct from a theory but it has influences in the way knowledge is studied and interpreted. It is the choice of paradigm that sets down the intent, motivation and expectations for the research (Mackenzie et Knipe, 2006). There are four paradigms namely; interpretivism, positivism, realism and pragmatism.
Interpretivism advocates that it is necessary for the researcher to understand differences between humans in our role as social actors. This emphasises the difference between conducting research among people rather than objects such as trucks and computers. In the same way we interpret our everyday social roles in accordance with the meaning we give to these roles. In addition, we interpret the social roles of others in accordance with our own set of meanings (Saunders, 2009).
Positivism is derived from that of natural science and is characterized by the testing of hypothesis developed from existing theory through measurement of
observable social realities. It is based upon values of reason, truth, validity and focuses purely on facts, gathered through direct observation and experience. Whilst Realism is concerned with the kinds of things that are there, plus how these things behave. It accepts that reality may exist in spite of science or observation and that there is validity in recognizing realities that simply claimed to exist or act whether proven or not (Flowers, 2009).
Pragmatism is a position that mainly argues that the most important determinant of the research philosophy adopted is the research question. It argues that it is possible to work within both positivist and interpretivist positions. Pragmatism applies a practical approach that integrates different perspectives to help collect and interpret data (Saunders, 2009).
3.6 Research Approaches
There are two types of approaches inductive and deductive. Deductive reasoning works from the more general to the more specific. It is sometimes informally called "top-down" approach as conclusions follow logically from premises which are also known as the available facts.
Inductive reasoning, works the other way, moving from specific observations to broader generalizations and theories. Informally, it is sometimes called the "bottom up" approach and involves a degree of uncertainty. Conclusions are also based on premises.
This research therefore is based on an ontological philosophy with an interpretivism perspective and inductive approach. This is so because ontology is based on the nature of reality whilst interpretivism involves the participation of people with information being perceived through socially constructed and subjective interpretations.
The approach is inductive because discussions about project management and project success present ontological issues and therefore play a role in
investigating the relationship between project risk management and the role it plays in determining project success.