Data Management Risks: A Bane of Construction Project Performance

Abstract

The construction industry is a sector that creates employment opportunities for everybody from all backgrounds. A good performance achieved through managing data is one factor that enables the construction industry’s success and development. Unfortunately, data management encounters challenges regarding data safety, due to the implementation of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) (digitalisation). This study sets out to evaluate the effects of risks to data management on the performance of construction projects. This research work used a quantitative methodology and gathered information from different construction professionals in the South African construction industry via a well-structured questionnaire through online platforms. These professionals were quantity surveyors, architects, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers practising for a firm, company, organization, or institution within Gauteng province, South Africa. A random sampling technique was used in this research to ensure that each part and set of individuals had an equivalent possibility of being incorporated into the sample. Of 215 questionnaires sent out, 181 (84.19%) responses were received and used for data analysis. Mean item score (MIS), standard deviation (SD), a non-parametric test, and exploratory factor analysis were used to analyse the retrieved data. Findings revealed that loss of construction project data, loss of confidential information, company image and reputational harm are among the top three effects that risks to data have on people working in the construction sector. This study concluded that these data management risk effects could be prevented if construction project stakeholders were aware of the different data management risks.

Benefits of construction data risks management in the construction industry

“…2.2 Reduces hardware and software damage Tanga et al (2022a) pointed out that construction companies may find it difficult to access saved papers or data, and take longer to recover the file resulting in the deadline missing which can be due to technical problems or cyberattacks. All of this can accumulate to the point where the company's software and hardware are destroyed, making it difficult to access the information, especially in the case of cyberattacks.…”

“…The institute of engineering technology (2014) and Tanga et al (2022a) emphasised that there needs to be effective cybersecurity by implementing appropriate mechanisms to deal with various attacks. These mechanisms involve strategies, such as security awareness and policies, business processes support, as well as technical solutions.…”

“…This same sector requires both the fourth industrial revolution tools building information modelling (BIM, cloud storage) to monitor the enormous amount of data that is exchanged among stakeholders, as well as data risks management (DRM) to stand and fight the data-related issues that come not only with the implementation of Industry 4.0 (cyber-attacks) but also with some financial risks, and human and natural disasters (Zhao, 2023;Rehman et al, 2022). Although internet-related risks tend to dominate (Tanga et al, 2022a) in the present digitised world, there is a need to assess the benefits of all types of risks to promote more construction projects' success leading to more businesses. Several studies have talked about security risks associated with data in the sense of cyber-attacks (Tanga et al, 2022a), particularly in cloud computing (Chen and Zhao, 2012), DM risks (Tanga et al, 2022b) and supply chain risk management (Pham et al, 2022).…”

“…Although internet-related risks tend to dominate (Tanga et al, 2022a) in the present digitised world, there is a need to assess the benefits of all types of risks to promote more construction projects' success leading to more businesses. Several studies have talked about security risks associated with data in the sense of cyber-attacks (Tanga et al, 2022a), particularly in cloud computing (Chen and Zhao, 2012), DM risks (Tanga et al, 2022b) and supply chain risk management (Pham et al, 2022). Furthermore, Tepeli et al (2021) focused on the development of multidimensional modelling to diminish risks in strategic and complex construction projects.…”

“…Among the threats, are unauthorised access to the information system, software and maintenance errors, human and natural disasters, manipulation of data, espionage, loss of support services, wrong data entry, vandalism and theft, terrorism, user error, earthquakes, loss of electricity supply, information leakage, all of which have affected many sectors, including the CI. The vulnerabilities include cybersecurity negligence on the physical (hardware, employee), internet and software level such as inadequate control of physical access, lack of backup system, uncontrolled use of information, non-protection of hardware, unmotivated, lack of workers training, uncontrolled download from the internet among others (Sultanate of Oman Information Technology Authority, 2017; Cains et al, 2021;Talha et al, 2019;Tanga et al, 2022a;Zhao, 2023;Erfani et al, 2023). All these can be cured via the installation of a DM process.…”