Comparative analysis of project risks across construction sectors

The construction industry consists of various sectors that have different needs and functions. Those sector-specific differences create different risks that construction professionals empirically know. However, there is no documented and unbiased assessment to validate the empirical knowledge. Identifying the varying spectrum of risks present in different construction sectors in a systematic manner can facilitate more effective and efficient sharing, learning, and adoption of proven construction project management methods across these sectors. Ultimately, this can lead to significant improvements in construction productivity as a whole. This research analyzed risks in different construction sectors, including the commercial building, industrial, and civil infrastructure sectors in a comparative and quantitative manner. Project risk registers from the three construction sectors were analyzed using fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis and coincidence analysis. The study identified various risk configurations in each sector, as well as their similarities and dissimilarities. Based on the findings, an ideal path to the utilization and dissemination of advanced construction management strategies and methods across the construction sectors was developed. These results are expected to assist project participants and stakeholders in adopting and implementing advanced project planning, delivery, and management strategies derived from other construction sectors while taking into account different risks.