Operational Research in Engineering Sciences: Theory and Applications 
Vol. 4, Issue 1, 2021, pp. 1-18 
ISSN: 2620-1607 
eISSN: 2620-1747 

 DOI: https:// doi.org/10.31181/oresta2040101w 

 
* Corresponding author 
enditwardito@gmail.com (E. Wardito), humiras.hardi@mercubuana.ac.id (H. Hardi Purba), 
aleksander.purba@eng.unila.ac.id (A. Purba) 

SYSTEM DYNAMIC MODELING OF RISK MANAGEMENT IN 
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE 

REVIEW 

Endit Wardito1, Humiras Hardi Purba1 , Aleksander Purba2* 

1 Industrial Engineering Department, Mercu Buana University, Jakarta, Indonesia 
2 Civil Engineering Department, Lampung University, Lampung, Indonesia 

 
Received: 26 June 2020  
Accepted: 09 October 2020  
First online: 28 January 2021 

 
Review paper 

Abstract. This literature review discusses risk management research with System 
Dynamic modeling. Literature is reviewed by summarizing the research that has been 
done and examining research findings, research relationships, and research problems 
that require further research. The risk management paper with System Dynamic 
modeling (2000-2020) is reviewed by dividing risk into 3 groups, namely: internal risk, 
external risk, and project risk. Each group is further divided into technical risks and non-
technical risks. The results of the study stated that risk management with System 
Dynamic modeling has not been widely used as evidenced by research (2000-2020); there 
are only 25 papers that match the keywords and can be written reviews. Ten internal 
risk papers include: project members, location risk, document risk & information. 
External risk papers are only found in 2 papers that discuss: weather risk and social risk, 
while the project risks are found in 13 papers discussing: cost risk, time risk, work quality 
risk, and construction risk. 

Keywords: System Dynamic, Risk, Construction. 

1. Introduction 

In research related to risk management, many approaches can be done, one of 
which is to use System Dynamic, Fuzzy Logic, or other methods. The System Dynamics 
approach is a simulation method in solving real problems to describe the relationship 
between variables in a complex system (Maryani et al., 2015). The System Dynamic 
(SD) can be used as a basis for simulating the effects of various risks on the project 
schedule to explore optimal measures to prevent prior risks (J. Wang & Yuan, 2016). 
System Dynamic (SD) can use dynamics and feedback to understand the structure and 
characteristics of a complex system so that it can help decision making (Yang & Yeh, 



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2014). System Dynamic can also be combined with other analytical methods such as 
Fuzzy; an integrated fuzzy-SD model can be applied to all BOT projects to determine 
the concession period (Khanzadi et al., 2012). The use of System Dynamics in 
construction projects has a good track record and has been used for a long time. In 
(Boateng et al., 2012), the SD method has been used extensively over the past 35 years 
on complex projects and has proven the track record of project management 
performance in the project life cycle. This review aims to examine risk management 
research using System Dynamic modeling to determine what can be accomplished 
using System Dynamic and to see Research GAP for further research. 

2. Methodology 

This review is based on a summary of the literature obtained online from trusted 
sources that discuss Risk Management using System Dynamic modeling, which is then 
reviewed and synthesized to provide the latest information. In research (Zavadskas et 
al., 2010), Risk was divided into 3 parts, namely: Internal Risk, External Risk, and 
Project Risk. Risk allocation structure is shown in Figure 1. 

 

Figure 1. Risk allocation structure (Zavadskas et al. 2010) 

Internal risks (intrinsic criteria): (1) Resource risk; (2) Project member risk; (3) 
Stakeholders Risks; (4) Designer Risk; (5) Contractor Risk; (6) SubContractor Risk; (7) 
Supplier Risk; (8) Team Risk; (9) Construction site risk; and (10) Documents and 
information risk. External risks (environmental criteria): (1) Political risk; (2) 
Economic risk; (3) Social risk; (4) Weather risk. Project risks (construction process 
criteria): (1) Time risk; (2) Cost risk; (3) Work quality; (4) Construction risk; and (5) 
Technological risk. The study method is shown in Figure 2. 



System dynamic modeling of risk management in construction projects: A systematic 
literature review  

 

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Figure 2. Study Framework:  A Systematic Literature Review 

3. Results 

3.1. Summary of Results 

The summary of the paper review related to risk management with System 
Dynamics modeling is shown in Table 1 (1.1-1.4).  

 

 

 

 

 



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Table 1.1. Summary of Results, Risk Groups & Risk Criteria Based on (Zavadskas et al. 
2010) 

No. Paper 
Risk 

Group 
Criteria (Risk) Summary of Results 

1. 
(Love et al., 

2002) 
Project Work Quality 

Variation, rework, or both have a significant 
impact on the level of progress of the project, 
caused by: (1) Purchaser Changes; (2) Design 
Freezing; (3) Information management; (4) 
Building regulations; (5) Consultant fees; (6) 
Communication; (7) Coordination and 
integration of the project team; and (8) 
Training and skills development. 

2. 
(Nasirzadeh et 

al., 2008) 
Project Cost 

Because of the more obvious negative side 
effects of the modified labor/equipment 
policy (MLEP), The quality is better than the 
overtime workforce policy (OTP) which 
experiences increased cost overruns. 

3. 
(Nasirzadeh et 

al., 2008) 
Project Cost 

A large negative impact on project objectives 
in terms of cost overruns and project delays 
can be caused by machine breakdowns. The 
following alternative response scenarios for 
that risk: (1) use of overtime policy; (2) 
modification in labor/equipment policy; (3) 
use of subcontractors; (4) schedule changes.  

4. 
(Yi & Xiao, 

2008) 
Project Cost 

Project risks and costs by building a System 
Dynamics model are influenced by the 
allocation of stimulating costs between 
elements and elements between departments. 

5. 
(Han et al., 

2010) 
Internal 

Construction 
Site 

The relationship between the main indicators, 
safety culture, and organizational safety 
conditions and sensitivity analysis based on 
observing behavior towards the safety climate 
does not have a significant effect on the safety 
climate. 

6. 
(Mohamed & 

Chinda, 2011) 
Internal 

Construction 
Site 

An organization with ad-hoc safety 
implementation (starting from the basic level 
of maturity of safety culture) must primarily 
focus on improving leadership attributes, in 
the context of safety, for rapid and successful 
progress to a higher level of maturity in the 
future. 

7. 
(Boateng et 

al., 2012) 
External Weather 

Four weather conditions that have an impact 
on the project: (1) Snowfall; (2) High 
temperature; (3) Rainfall; and (4) Wind. 

8. 
(Khanzadi et 

al., 2012) 
Project Time 

The proposed integrated fuzzy-SD model can 
be applied to all Built Operate Transfer (BOT) 
projects to determine the concession period. 

9. 
(Shin et al., 

2014) 
Internal Team 

Examine Three safety enhancement policies: 
(1) Provide incentives to workers, offer as 
early as possible for their safe behavior to be 
most effective; (2) Sharing accident 
information among workers; and (3) Helping 
workers experience accidents when sharing 
accident information. 

 

 



System dynamic modeling of risk management in construction projects: A systematic 
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Table 1.2. Summary of Results, Risk Groups & Risk Criteria Based on (Zavadskas et al. 
2010)  

No. Paper 
Risk 

Group 
Criteria 
(Risk) 

Summary of Results 

10. 
(Y. Xu et al., 

2012) 
Project Cost 

Finally, the price of public private partnership 
(PPP) highway project concessions can be 
determined by the following formula: 

Finalprice = Basicprice* (1+ λ1- PRS1 
λ2− λ1

PRS2−PRS1
  

Where: 
Final Price = Basic Price + Adjustment price 
Final price = (1 +λ) Basic Price 
PRS𝑖 = 𝑊𝑖𝑗  × (𝑅𝑖𝑗 - 𝑅𝑜𝑗 ) 
∑ 𝑊𝑖𝑗

𝑛
j=1      =1 

where, PRS𝑖 is the overall risk similarity between 
a reference case i and a target case; 
𝑊𝑖𝑗  is the weighting of each risk factor; 

𝑅𝑖𝑗  denotes the reference case i's risk factor j, 𝑅𝑜𝑗  

denotes the target case n's risk factor j; 
∑ 𝑊𝑖𝑗

𝑛
j=1        denotes the summation of weighting 

of all risk factors. 

11. 
(Nasirzadeh 
et al., 2014) 

Project Cost 

The optimal percentage of risk allocation is set at 
46%. If the client accepts 46% of the risk 
consequences, the project costs will be 
minimized. 

12. 
(Yang & Yeh, 

2014) 
External 

Politic-
al 

7 steps to solve environmental risk management 
problems systematically and efficiently. (Step 1) 
Verification of Stakeholders With Related 
Problems; (Step 2) Determine Important Issues 
Between Two Stakeholders; (Step 3) Draw the 
Important Causal Feedback Loop Diagram for 
Reference the Indicated Problem to the System 
Template; (Step 4) Building a Stock Flow System 
Dynamics Model Referring to the Causal 
Feedback Loop Diagram; (Step 5) Building a 
Framework Including a System Dynamics Model 
for Stakeholder Negotiations on related issues; 
(Step 6) Repeat Steps 2–5 until all Stakeholders 
are Involved; and (Step 7) List of Environmental 
Risks. 

13. 
(Jiang et al., 

2015) 
Internal Team 

A System dynamics model for the causation of 
unsafe behaviors (SD-CUB) produce correct 
behavior patterns. that is: (1) safety and 
production can support each other; (2) 
management conditions on the supervisory level 
are effective on the improvement of workers’ 
safety awareness; (3) preventive actions are 
more effective than reactive actions on the 
enhancement of safety performance. 

 



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Table 1.3. Summary of Results, Risk Groups & Risk Criteria Based on (Zavadskas et al, 
2010) 

No. Paper 
Risk 

Group 
Criteria 
(Risk) 

Summary of Results 

14. 
(Cunbin et al., 

2015) 
Internal Team 

The SD model of the transmission of risk elements 
that simulate the scope and depth of projects affected 
by human risk elements, we can illustrate as follows: 
(1) The theory of transmitting risk elements is 
introduced into the process that how human risk 
impacts  construction and transfer projects, can carry 
out quantitative analysis at procedures and levels; 
(2) Schedules will temporarily disrupt elements of 
human risk; (3) If risks occur late, the right 
expansion saves more costs, while increasing the 
number of personnel cannot be completed on 
schedule; (4) Staff and general staff ratios will be 
considered. During the increase in technical staff, if it 
does not reduce construction speed, it will rework 
more, and form more waste; (5) When the 
proportion of key staff and general staff is more than 
standard, the workload of key staff is not saturated, 
while the risk of general staff increases. 

15. 
(Maryani et al., 

2015) 
Internal 

Construc
tion Site 

The contractor must pay attention to the 
Components that make up K3 costs, namely: (1) 
Direct costs; (2) Indirect costs; (3) Training costs; (4) 
Consumption and non-consumables; (5) OSH 
equipment and inventory costs; (6) Prize and penalty 
fees; (7) Prevention costs; (8) Insurance fee; and (9) 
Costs outside of insurance coverage. 

16. 
(Boateng et al., 

2016) 
Project 

Construc
tion 

Launched the Analytical Network Process (ANP) and 
System Dynamic (SD), (Integrated SD-ANP), to model 
the ease of design and construction of megaproject 
projects, SD-ANP model. The new framework is a 
superior solution for completing dynamics during 
design and construction megaprojects. 

17. 
(Nasir Bedewi 

Siraj, 2016) 
Project 

Construc
tion 

This paper develops FSD (Fuzzy System Dynamic) 
work commitments that will address many issues 
related to financial management by using higher 
funds that focus on risk issues, complex interactions 
between various risk factors, and dynamic effects. 

18. 
(Wang & Yuan, 

2016) 
Project Time 

There are six main risks, which are very important in 
influencing infrastructure project schedules, which 
include: (1) change request by the client; (2) project 
payment delays; (3) pressure due to tight project 
schedules; (4) site investigation information is not 
accurate; (5) loss of skilled labor, and (6) bad 
contractor management. 

19. 
(L. Xu et al., 

2017) 
Project 

Documen
ts and 

informati
on 

 

The Public-private partnership (PPP). This is a form 
of collaboration between one or more public and 
private sectors, which is long-term in nature. Based 
on the project's risk allocation mechanism, the risk 
factors system is summarized, divided into three 
sub-systems, including cooperation effectiveness 
sub-system, cooperation environment sub-system, 
and construction and operation sub-system. 

 

 



System dynamic modeling of risk management in construction projects: A systematic 
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Table 1.4.  Summary of Results, Risk Groups & Risk Criteria Based on (Zavadskas et al. 
2010) 

No. Paper 
Risk 

Group 
Criteria 
(Risk) 

Summary of Results 

20. 
(Mohammadi et 

al., 2018) 
Internal 

Constructi
on Site 

Four archetypes are developed to address the 
identified safety problems during the data collection 
process, including (1) Delay in design; (2) Number 
of subcontractors; (3) Project cost and safety; and 
(4) Supervisors and safety. 

21. 
(Ullah et al., 

2018) 
Project Time 

This study proves 59 CSF that affects CP. The results 
of a survey of 26 industry experts and 30 academics 
determined that Net Present Value (NPV), Project 
income (PI), Revenue stream (RS), Severity Involved 
Risks (SIR), Market situation (MS), and Investment 
Size (IS) were the most complicated aspects, with a 
minimum of 8% usage by MS and IS, and a maximum 
of 29% generated by NPV. 

22. 
(X. Xu et al., 

2018) 
Project Time 

The hybrid dynamic model developed was applied 
in the bridge engineering project to analyze the 
impact of the four risks selected on schedule. The 
results are as follows: (1) the degree of influence of 
risk on performance schedules varies across the 
project timeline; (2) the effect of risk may have a 
different rating when the risk occurs at different 
stages; (3) the effect of multiple risks on a schedule 
may be more significant than the simple amount of 
each risk. 

23. 
(Mohammadi & 

Tavakolan, 
2019) 

Internal 
Constructi

on Site 

The simulation model presented in this paper can be 
used to: (1) identify changes in safety performance 
results during project time; (2) evaluate the effect of 
various factors on the results of safety performance; 
(3) make new policies or corrective actions to 
respond to changes in the project correctly. 

24. 
(Nasir & 

Hadikusumo, 
2019) 

Project 

Document
s and 

informati
on 

 

That Owner & Contractor relationships could be 
managed with integrated contract management 
activities both before and during the construction 
stage. The preconstruction stage has more potential 
to influence contractual relationships than the 
construction stage. The best result was found when 
all of the previously mentioned policies 
(preconstruction stage policies, and construction 
stage policies) were implemented together. 

25. 
(Mortazavi et al., 

2020) 
Project 

Constructi
on 

Ten Diagrams are selected and analyzed, The 
Results are: (1) 10-Fold Increase in Lack of Budget 
Coefficient; (2) 10-Fold Increase in the Coefficient of 
Delays in the Project Implementation; (3) 10-Fold 
Increase in Claim Coefficient; (4) 10-Fold Increase in 
the Incomplete Design Coefficient; (5) 10-Fold 
Increase in the Coefficient of Employing Poor-
Quality Second-Class Contractors; (6) 10-Fold 
Increase in the Coefficient of Low Labor 
Productivity; and (7) 10-Fold Increase in the 
Coefficient of Employing Unskilled Labor. 

3.2. Risk Group 

Based on Table 1 (Sections 1-3) of the Resume Review Paper, it can be concluded 
that: papers discussing Internal Risk include 10 Papers (40%), 2 papers (8%) discuss 



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External Risks, and 13 papers (52%) discuss Project Risks. The results of the grouping 
appear in Figure 3. 

 

Figure 3. Risk Group Count 

3.3. Risk Criteria 

Based on Table 1 (Sections 1-4) in the discussion Continue Review paper, it can be 
concluded that the Risk Criteria discussed are as shown in Table 2. The grouping 
results are then sorted by the number of papers discussing the most Risk Criteria, as 
well as in Table 3. Furthermore, the discussion of the papers according to Risk criteria 
will be discussed in more detail.  

Table 2. The Most Researched Risk Criteria 
Risk Group Risk Criteria Count 

Internal Risk Construction site risk  5 
Project Risk Cost risk  5 
Project Risk Time risk  4 
Internal Risk Team risk 3 
Project Risk Construction risk  3 
Internal Risk Documents and information risk 2 

Exsternal Risk Political risk 1 
Exsternal Risk  Weather risk 1 

Project Risk Work quality  1 
 

 
 

 

 

 

Internal  Ri s k INT 10 40%

External  Ri s k EXT 2 8%

Project Ri s k PRO 13 52%

INT

40%

EXT

8%

PRO

52%



System dynamic modeling of risk management in construction projects: A systematic 
literature review  

 

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Table 3. Risk Criteria Count 

Risk Count Percentage

Internal Risk 10 40%

Resource Risk 0 0%

Project member risk 0 0%

Stakeholder Risk 0 0%

Designer Risk 0 0%

Contractor Risk 0 0%

Sub Contractor Risk 0 0%

Supplier Risk 0 0%

Team Risk 3 12%

Construction site risk 5 20%

Documents and information risk 2 8%

Exsternal Risk 2 8%

Political Risk 1 4%

Economical Risk 0 0%

Social Risk 0 0%

Weather Risk 1 4%

Project Risk 13 52%

Time risk 4 16%

Costruction risk 5 20%

Work quality 1 4%

Construction risk 3 12%

Technological Risk 0 0%

Total 25 100%  

4. Discussion 

4.1. Internal Risk, Team Risk 

Team risk refers to problems associated with project team members, which can 
increase uncertainty about project outcomes, such as team member turnover, staff 
improvement, inadequate knowledge among team members, collaboration, 
motivation, and team communication problems (Zavadskas et al., 2010). The results 
show that, during the specified period (2000-2020), there were 3 papers that 
discussed the Internal Risk for Team Risk Criteria. Construction accidents are caused 
by unsafe actions (e.g. Behavior or activities of someone who deviates from the safe 



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procedure that is normally accepted) and/or unsafe conditions (for example, hazard 
or unsafe physical environment). Relatively little is known about eliminating unsafe 
construction workers' actions. Three safety improvement policies are examined: (1) 
Providing incentives to workers to make their safe behavior most effective if offered 
as early as possible, (2) Sharing accident information among workers can help reduce 
accident incidents, and (3) Helping workers feel an accident when sharing accident 
information because they assess the risk an accident is based on how likely it is to 
occur. Difficulties experienced by people in changing their habits and interests related 
to safety and safety in construction companies. This will be effective for sharing 
audiovisual accident information (Shin et al., 2014). Unsafe construction workers 
getting the direct cause of construction accidents, but the causes are not well 
understood (Jiang et al., 2015). This study discusses the modeling of System Dynamics 
to understand the systematic construction of unsafe construction. The SD-CUB model 
was developed to facilitate understanding of how the system optimizes. The SD-CUB 
model produces correct behavior patterns. The test model also implies that: (1) safety 
and production can truly support each other; (2) management conditions at the 
supervisory level are effective in increasing employee safety awareness; (3) 
preventive measures are more effective than reactive measures to improve safety 
performance. The characteristics of human resources are complex and flexible, 
predicting and controlling risks resulting from human resources is more difficult than 
other risk factors (Cunbin et al., 2015). In the research, the aim is to achieve effective 
construction objectives, then develop an SD Model to transmit elements of human 
resources during the construction project. The SD model of the transmission of risk 
elements that simulate the scope and depth of projects affected by human risk 
elements, we can illustrate as follows: (1) The theory of transmission of risk elements 
is incorporated into the process that how human risk impacts on construction and 
transfer projects, can carry out quantitative analysis at procedures and levels, (2) 
Schedules will disrupt while human elements of risk occur, (3) If risks occur late, the 
right expansion saves more costs, while increasing the number of personnel cannot be 
completed on schedule, (4) Staff and general staff ratios will be considered. During the 
improvement of technical staff, if it does not reduce the speed of construction, it will 
process more, and form more waste, and (5) When general staff risks occur, the 
proportion of key staff and general staff is more than standard, the workload of the 
main staff is not saturated, while general staff increased. 

4.2. Internal Risk, Construction Site Risk 

It means that construction site risk is workplace accident exposure that is inherent 
like the work and is considered best by contractors and their insurance and safety 
advisors (Zavadskas et al., 2010). The results show that, during the specified period 
(2000-2020), there were 5 papers that discussed the Internal Risk for Site 
Construction Risk Criteria. Strong safety culture in companies and the influence of 
superior Main indicators for safety culture: (1) Worker's behavior; (2) Employee 
perception; (3) Schedule of delays; (4) Participation of the Safety Committee 
management; (5) Meetings; (6) Toolbox talks; (7) Safety education; (8) Inspection of 
superiors; (9) Worker involvement; (10) Inspections at work; (11) Danger; (12) 
Competence; and (13) Safety training. By integrating all concepts into the System 
Dynamics model, it is activated to analyze the feasibility of using key indicators 
previously understood, factors related to safety culture, and improving them on 
organizational safety. The relationship between the main indicators, safety culture, 



System dynamic modeling of risk management in construction projects: A systematic 
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11 
 

and organizational safety conditions and sensitivity analysis based on observing 
behavior towards the safety climate does not have a significant effect on the safety 
climate (Han et al., 2010). The construction of safety culture and the interaction 
between five key construction safety culture enablers, as well as the potential of each 
enabler on the organization's safety objectives during a certain period (Mohamed & 
Chinda, 2011). The following are 5 Key Enablers in a Construction Project: (1) 
Leadership; (2) Policies and Strategies; (3) People; (4) Partnerships and Resources; 
(5) Process. Organizations with ad-hoc safety implementation (starting from the basic 
level of safety culture maturity) must primarily focus on improving leadership 
attributes, in the context of safety, for rapid and successful progress to a higher level 
of maturity in the future.  

Work accidents can be caused by members of the supply chain, i.e. parties involved 
in development projects, from management to workers, work environment, and work 
pressure related to targets, costs, quality, and time. Accidents will have an impact on 
costs, especially K3 costs (Maryani et al., 2015). The components that makeup OHS 
costs that require contractor attention are: (1) direct costs; (2) indirect costs; (3) 
training costs; (4) consumption and non-consumables; (5) Cost of OSH equipment and 
supplies; (6) prize and penalty fees; (7) prevention costs; (8) insurance costs; (9) costs 
outside the insurance coverage.  

Repeated behavioral patterns in work safety management continuously have four 
archetypes identified, namely: (1) design delays; (2) number of subcontractors; (3) 
project costs and security; and (4) supervisors and safety. Each archetype is discussed 
at different stages of dynamic complexity, behavior over time, and the point of 
leverage to show how to deal with archetypes (Mohammadi et al., 2018). In 
construction projects caused by system failures, not just because of a single factor such 
as an unsafe problem or condition (Mohammadi & Tavakolan, 2019). Therefore, the 
construction of safety must be investigated using a systematic view that can think of 
the complex nature of reporting. Construction projects are also often canceled from 
the schedule issued and decided from the pressure caused by contract or client 
deadlines. Therefore, good project managers are needed for dynamic change. The 
simulation results in this paper can be used to: (1) identify changes in safety 
performance results during project time; (2) evaluate the effect of various factors on 
the results of safety performance; (3) make new policies or corrective actions to 
respond to changes in projects correctly. 
 

4.3. Internal Risk, Documentation & Information Risk 

Document and information risk assumptions include: contradictions in documents; 
pretermission; law and communication. Changing order negotiations and pending 
dispute resolution are significant risks during project construction. Communication is 
very important throughout all construction periods and after completing construction 
work (Zavadskas et al., 2010). The results showed that, during the specified period 
(2000-2020), there were 2 papers that discussed the Internal Risk for Documentation 
& Information Risk Criteria. The Public-private partnership (PPP) is a form of 
collaboration between one or more public and private sectors, which is long-term in 
nature. Based on the project's risk allocation mechanism, the risk factors system is 
summarized, divided into three sub-systems, including cooperation effectiveness sub-



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system, cooperation environment sub-system, and construction and operation sub-
system. By setting the System Dynamics model, it can be concluded that government 
efficiency and contract document conflicts are key elements. In conclusion, the conflict 
of contract documents and the efficiency of the project company must be strictly 
controlled in this project (L. Xu et al., 2017). Another paper has examined the Contract 
Documents Between Owners and Contractors in a Construction project as a facilitating 
and integrated way to facilitate owner-contractor (O/C) relations in construction 
projects. This paper focuses more on discussing Policy in Pre-Construction Phase 
Policy, Construction Phase Policy & Combined Policy. Police Simulation in Pre-
Construction Stage: (1) Standard value; (2) Procedure for selecting the right 
contractor; (3) Proactive contracting process; (4) Contractor involvement in design; 
(5) Quality of the written clause; (6) Abnormal low bids. Police Simulation in 
Construction: (7) Bureaucracy and politics deadline; (8) Late payment progress; (9) 
Efficient reporting; (10) Adequate scheduling system; (11) Adjustments to adequate 
and fair compensation. Police Simulation in Combined Police: (12) Policy 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 
+ 6; (13) Policies 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11; and (14) 12 + 13 Policy. The Study Results state: 
The hostile nature of the O/C relationship has been a matter of concern and can lead 
to poor relationships in the construction contract, which causes a bad relationship in 
the contract. This study reveals that the development of the O/C relationships can be 
better understood if it regulates management approval for a combination of several 
improvements and balances. O / relationship can be managed with good contract 
management activities before and during construction. The pre-construction stage has 
a greater potential to influence contractual relations than the construction stage. The 
best results are found when all the policies mentioned earlier (pre-construction stage 
policies, and construction phase policies) are implemented together (Nasir & 
Hadikusumo, 2019). 

4.4. External Risk, Political Risk 

Political risk is a change in government laws regarding the legislative system, 
regulations, and policies as well as inappropriate administrative systems, etc. 
(Zavadskas et al., 2010). The results show that, during the specified period (2000-
2020), there was only 1 paper that discussed the External Risk for Political Risk 
Criteria Environmental risks arise from external forces that can easily place a project 
outside management's control. To avoid the influence of external forces, it is necessary 
to understand the problems between the project and external stakeholders. Seven 
processes are proposed using the SD Model to solve environmental risk management 
problems in a systematic and efficient manner. In the case study, there are seven steps 
to solve the problem of environmental risk management systematically, and 
efficiently. Step 1: Kernel Stakeholder Verification with the relevant Problem; Step 2: 
Determine Meaningful Issues Between Two Stakeholders; Step 3: Draw the Feedback 
Loop Diagram Cause of Cause for Reference Problems Indicated for System 
Archetypes; Step 4: Build a Dynamics Model of the Stock-Flow System by Referring to 
the Causal Feedback Loop Diagram; Step 5: Build a Frame Including a System 
Dynamics Model for Negotiations among Stakeholders for the Problem Indicated; Step 
6: Repeat Steps 2–5 Until All Stakeholders Are Involved; Step 7: Make a List of 
Environmental Risks. This process allows project managers to reduce the negative 
impact of project threats (Yang & Yeh, 2014). 



System dynamic modeling of risk management in construction projects: A systematic 
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4.5. External Risk, Weather Risk 

In connection with a very abnormal problem, the contractor is risking because it 
affects the construction method that can be agreed by the contractor (Zavadskas et al., 
2010). The results show that, during the specified period (2000-2020), there was only 
1 paper that discussed the External Risk for Weather Risk Criteria. The effect of critical 
weather conditions (CWC) and addressing their direct impact on construction 
activities is very important for contractors, clients, and affected communities (P 
Boateng et al., 2012). The reason is that SD is used to model delays and cause cost 
overruns for the results of weather phenomena. Four weather conditions that impact 
the project: (1) Snow falling; (2) High temperature; (3) Rainfall; (4) Wind.  

4.6. Project Risk, Time Risk 

Time risk can be determined by assessing construction delays, technology, and for 
all jobs (Zavadskas et al., 2010). The results show that, during the specified period 
(2000-2020), there were 4 papers that discussed the Project Risks for Time Risk 
Criteria. The Project BOT Financing using System Dynamic modeling is integrated with 
Fuzzy. It chooses the integrated fuzzy-SD model that can be applied to all BOT projects 
to determine the concession period (Khanzadi et al., 2012). Effects of Risk Schedule 
Delay are generated. There are six main risks (Wang & Yuan, 2016) which are very 
important in influencing infrastructure project schedules, which include: (1) changes 
in demand by clients; (2) project payment delays; (3) pressure from tight project 
schedules; (4) the information from the site investigation is inaccurate; (5) loss of 
skilled labor, (6) poor contractor management. Another paper has examined the 
planning scheduling problems in infrastructure project management. This study is a 
research modeling, System Dynamic (SD) and discrete event simulation (DES). The 
results are as follows: (1) the degree of influence of risk on the performance schedule 
varies across the project schedule; (2) risk effects can have different ratings when 
risks occur at different stages; (3) the effect of various risks on a schedule may be more 
significant than the simple amount of each risk. SD-DES modeling that can be used 
easily compares models for real reflection, performs various sensitivity and analysis 
analyzes and determines the results of more effective comparisons (X. Xu et al., 2018). 
The System Dynamic (SD) approach to provide deep understanding of the critical 
success factors (CSF) that determine the project concession period (CP) and model it 
for local use. This study proves 59 CSF that affects CP. The survey results from 26 
industry experts and 30 academics determined that Present Value (NPV), Project 
income (PI), Revenue stream (RS), Severity Involved Risks (SIR), Market situation 
(MS), and Investment Size (IS) is the most complicated aspect, with a minimum use of 
8% by MS and IS, and a maximum of 29% generated by NPV (Ullah et al., 2018). 

4.7. Project Risk, Cost Risk 

Cost risk is the opportunity cost of the product that goes up because it ignores 
management (Zavadskas et al., 2010). The results show that, during the specified 
period (2000-2020), there were 5 papers that discussed Project Risks for Cost Risk 
Criteria. Overtime employment policies result in more significant swelling costs and 
poor quality compared to modification of labor/equipment policies (MLEP) due to 
their more prominent negative side effects (Nasirzadeh et al., 2008). This time, they 
discussed the risk of engine damage that can cause a large negative impact on project 



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14 
 

objectives in terms of cost overruns and project delays (Nasirzadeh et al., 2008). The 
following alternative response scenarios for this risk: (1) use of overtime policy; (2) 
modification in labor/equipment policy; (3) use of subcontractors; and (4) schedule 
changes. Another paper analyzed the optimal percentage of risk allocation determined 
at 46% (Nasirzadeh et al., 2014). The output of the model shows that if the client 
receives 46% of the risk consequences, the project costs (client costs) will be 
minimized.  

The price of highway project concessions, as a result, the price of PPP highway 
project concessions can be determined by the following formula (Y. Xu et al., 2012): 

 Final price = Basic price* (1+ λ1- PRS1 
λ2− λ1

PRS2−PRS1
)  (1) 

Where: 

Final Price = Basic Price + Adjustment price 

Final price = (1 +λ) Basic Price 

PRS𝑖  = 𝑊𝑖𝑗  × (𝑅𝑖𝑗 - 𝑅𝑜𝑗 ) 

∑ 𝑊𝑖𝑗
𝑛
j=1      =1  

where, PRS𝑖  is the overall risk similarity between reference case i and a target case; 

𝑊𝑖𝑗  is the weighting of each risk factor; 

𝑅𝑖𝑗  denotes the reference case i's risk factor j, 𝑅𝑜𝑗   denotes the target case n's risk 

factor j; 

  ∑ 𝑊𝑖𝑗
𝑛
j=1        denotes the summation of weighting of all risk factors. 

The Stimulation of cost allocation between elements and elements between 
departments influence project risk and costs by building a System Dynamics model (Yi 
& Xiao, 2008). Allocation ratio is shown in Table 4. From the output results, when the 
allocation ratio is 0.6: 0.3: 0.1, cost savings reach the maximum of 2707 (2704) and 
the risk reaches the minimum of 0.28 (0.27). When the probability of the project risk 
occurrence is 0.27 or 0.28, it is in the supportability scope. 

Table 4. Allocation ratio (Yi & Xiao, 2008) 
 Allocation ratio 

Bonus: environment cost: 
training cost 

0.6: 0.3: 0.1 0.45: 0.35: 0.2 0.3: 0.4: 0.3 

Risk 0.28 (0.27) 0.30 (0.29) 0.32 (0.31) 
Saved cost 2707 (2704) 2622 (2619) 2521 (2518) 

Time (week) 10.5 (10.75) 10.5 (10.75) 10.5 (10.75) 

4.8. Project Risk, Work Quality Risk 

Construction delays and additional costs for contractors are due to the quality of 
the work that is damaged and easily creates disputes regarding deflection obligations. 
(Zavadskas et al., 2010). The results show that, during the specified period (2000-
2020), there was only 1 paper that discussed the Project Risks for Work Quality Risk 
Criteria. Matters that have a significant impact on the level of project progress that can 
cause variation, rework, or both (Love et al., 2002), namely: (1) Buyer Changes; (2) 



System dynamic modeling of risk management in construction projects: A systematic 
literature review  

 

15 
 

Freezing of Design; (3) Information management; (4) Building regulations; (5) 
Consultant fees; (6) Communication; (7) Coordination and integration of the project 
team; (8) Training and skills development. 

4.9. Project Risk, Construction Risk 
 

Construction risk refers to the Risks involved in construction delays, changes in 
work, and construction technology (Zavadskas et al., 2010). The results show that, 
during the specified period (2000-2020), there were 3 papers that discussed the 
Project Risks for Construction Risk Criteria. The 10 diagrams selected and analyzed to 
identify and assess risks, and to develop predictive models for feedback behavior and 
to illustrate the effects of risks to each other in bridge construction projects (Mortazavi 
et al., 2020), The results are: (1) 10-Fold Increase in Lack of Budget Coefficient; (2) 10-Fold 
Increase in the Coefficient of Delays in the Project Implementation; (3) 10-Fold Increase in Claim 
Coefficient; (4) 10-Fold Increase in the Incomplete Design Coefficient; (5) 10-Fold Increase in 
the Coefficient of Employing Poor-Quality Second-Class Contractors; (6) 10-Fold Increase in the 
Coefficient of Low Labor Productivity; and (7) 10-Fold Increase in the Coefficient of Employing 

Unskilled Labor. The Analytical Network Process and System Dynamic, (Integrated SD-
ANP) are used to model the ease of design and construction of megaproject (Prince 
Boateng et al., 2016). The new framework is a superior solution for completing 
dynamics during design and construction megaprojects. Another paper develops FSD 
(Fuzzy System Dynamic) work commitments that will address many issues related to 
financial management using higher funds that focus on risk issues, complex 
interactions between various risk factors, and effects dynamic (Nasir Bedewi Siraj, 
2016). 

5. System dynamic Software  

Out of 25 Papers Regarding Risk Management with System Dynamic modeling, 12 
papers used VENSIM software while the other 13 papers do not explain the use of 
System Dynamic Software. Recent research (Mortazavi et al., 2020) also uses VENSIM 
Software for System Dynamic Modeling.  

6. Future Research  

Some of the papers reviewed mostly did not inform future research, only (Boateng 
et al., 2016) that proposed future research would look at risks such as Social, 
Technology, Economics, Ecology, and Politics (STEEP) in construction projects. This 
research was later published in 2016 by the same author. In Table 3, there are many 
risks that have not been studied with System Dynamic, and this can be used as a 
research gap for further research.  The Research gap for the Internal risk group: 
Resource risk; Project member risk; Stakeholder risk; Designer risk; Contractor risk; 
Sub Contractor risk; and Supplier risk. The Research gap for the External risk group: 
Economical risk; and Social risk. The research gap for the Project risk group: 
technological risk. 



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16 
 

7. Conclusion 

The results of the study stated that risk management with System Dynamic 
modeling has not been widely used as evidenced by research (2000-2020); there are 
only 25 papers that match the keywords and can be written reviews. Ten Internal risk 
papers include: project members, location risk, document risk & information. External 
risk papers are only found in 2 papers that discuss: weather risk and social risk, while 
the project risks are found in 13 papers discussing: cost risk, time risk, work quality 
risk, and construction risk. The most widely used software is VENSIM.  

The Internal Risk group: System Dynamic Modeling helps systematically 
understand unsafe behavior structures that result in correct behavior patterns; 
Dynamic Modeling System is also able to simulate the scope and depth of projects 
affected by human risk elements; using the System Dynamic on the main indicators of 
safety culture allows to analyze the appropriateness of the use of key indicators and 
factors related to safety culture, and improve organizational safety; Work accidents 
can be caused by parties involved in a development project, from management to 
workers, work environment, and work pressure related to targets, costs, quality and 
time. Accidents will have an impact on costs, especially K3 costs; in the PPP Project, 
the use of System Dynamics can conclude that government efficiency and contract 
document conflicts are key elements; in the contact relationship between Owner and 
contractor (O/ C), Dynamic Systems are used for Police Simulation at Pre-Construction 
Stage. 

The External Risk Group: The problem between the project and external 
stakeholders must be understood to avoid the influence of external forces. Dynamic 
systems can be used for studies that allow project managers to systematically and 
efficiently reduce the negative impacts of project threats; Meanwhile, to deal with 
weather risk, SD is used to model delay and cause cost overruns due to weather 
phenomena. 

The Project Risk group: Time-related System Dynamic Modeling can be integrated 
with Fuzzy which can be used in all BOT Financing Projects to determine the 
concession period; Dynamic systems can also be integrated with Discrete Event 
Simulation (DES) to be able to compare real reflection models, perform various models 
and sensitivity testing and determine the results of a more effective comparison; 
Regarding costs, the Dynamic Systems Project can support policies relating to 
overtime, additional employees or additional equipment; in Job Quality Risk using a 
dynamic system capable of identifying project progress and rework or both; 
Construction Risk uses a dynamic system to identify and assess risk, and to develop 
predictive models for feedback behavior and to describe the effects of risk; Dynamic 
Systems can also be integrated with Network Process Analytics (ANP) to model the 
ease of megaproject design and construction; In addition, Fuzzy System Dynamic 
Integration is able to solve many problems related to financial management using 
higher funds which focus on risk issues, complex interactions between various risk 
factors, and dynamic effects. 



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literature review  

 

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© 2021 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access publication under the 
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license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). 


	SYSTEM DYNAMIC MODELING OF RISK MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
	Endit Wardito1, Humiras Hardi Purba1 , Aleksander Purba2*
	1. Introduction
	2. Methodology
	3. Results
	3.1. Summary of Results
	3.2. Risk Group
	3.3. Risk Criteria

	4. Discussion
	4.1. Internal Risk, Team Risk
	4.2. Internal Risk, Construction Site Risk
	4.3. Internal Risk, Documentation & Information Risk
	4.4. External Risk, Political Risk
	4.5. External Risk, Weather Risk
	4.6. Project Risk, Time Risk
	4.7. Project Risk, Cost Risk
	4.8. Project Risk, Work Quality Risk
	4.9. Project Risk, Construction Risk

	5. System dynamic Software
	6. Future Research
	7. Conclusion
	Reference