Abstract:
Risk management is understood as a significant practice in order to accomplish better
construction projects successfully. Success in construction project is witnessed partly by its
practical risk management performance in terms of project time, cost, quality, client satisfaction
and safety among other things. In this south west Ethiopia Jimma University is known for its
investment in construction projects. Therefore the study attempts to assess risk management
practice of Jimma University Projects. The research type used in this study was sequential mixed
method design. The researcher started by collecting a quantitative data and then collected a
qualitative data for further explorations and confirmations. Four Jimma University ongoing
construction projects were purposefully selected. All professional workers (80) in the four sites
were selected and filed a questionnaire. Client, consultant, and contractors purposefully selected
and interviewed. Microsoft Excel was used to organize and analyze the data collected. And, then
integrated with the interview data, based on thematic category set in line with the specific
research objectives. According to the results of the study, there is no clearly defined risk
management method and procedure used in the construction projects of the university; but,
responding to problems as they occur. Besides, there is a limitation in identifying risks early and
including into the project plan. There is also less coordination among client, consultant and
contractors to mitigate risk. The key actors of the construction projects were also not handling
the human, material and financial risks that impact progress. As a result though there might be
other factors, the four construction projects considered in this study were in a delay status and
facing the problem of risk of cost overrun. Therefore, the construction projects of the university
are better implemented based on basic risk management methods and make risk identification
and mitigation its core activity. In other words, specific risk management methods such as, risk
identification, assessment, analysis and mitigation should be performed before the start of the
constructions. These should also be overtly included in to the overall plan documents of the
specific projects together with clearly defined expected risk factors and the how of talking them.
