Gestão de risco em micro e pequenas empresas da construção civil: estratégias e ferramentas para identificação, avaliação e mitigação

Abstract

Companies face a range of risks daily that can directly impact their success. In the construction sector, this is even more frequent, considering that it is a complex industry exposed to many uncertainties. In small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the construction sector, many projects are managed based solely on the individual experience of engineers, without the use of formal risk management tools, which leaves room for problems to arise from planning to execution. This study investigates the state of risk management in SMEs in the construction sector, analyzing strategies, tools, and the positioning of managers when dealing with the emergence of risks in the development of their projects. Based on the guidelines of NBR ISO 31000:2018 and NBR IEC 31010:2021, the research was conducted in Crateús-CE through interviews with managers of SMEs, with questions aimed at assessing the level of knowledge and application of risk management, as well as the challenges and solutions adopted. The results show that although managers recognize the importance of risk management for the success of their companies, the practices adopted are predominantly intuitive and informal, characterized by improvised interventions, in addition to a lack of knowledge about specific risk management standards. According to the managers, the most common problems are supplier delays, cost increases, and poor labor qualification. Furthermore, formal risk management tools, such as Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and the Cause and Effect Diagram, are still unknown to most managers and, therefore, are not used, highlighting the lack of information and technical preparation to deal with problems. Moreover, most managers show interest in adopting innovations and new practices that can enhance risk management; however, concerns about bureaucratic processes and additional costs emerge as barriers to effective implementation. Therefore, the research concludes that strengthening risk management in SMEs in the construction sector is essential to mitigate the negative impacts of risks, optimize project planning, and ensure the success of these companies in the market, resulting in cost reduction and improved operational efficiency.