Risk Management and SWOT Analysis for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

RISK MANAGEMENT

Question 1 Part 1
Despite the background checks and due diligence studies carried out before awarding contracts
to contractors, there is always the remote possibility that solvency and liquidity problems may
arise. This becomes an even greater challenge when the main contractor is in the process of
executing the project, but them becomes insolvent and is forced to go into administration. This
may be unexpected and the high level of its impact on the execution of a project can easily throw
everything into a spin; handling such unexpected scenarios is what matters though as something
will almost certainly go against the plan for any project. The first this that should be done is to
initiate contingency measures to arrest the situation and ensure the project proceeds to
completion. The contingency measure may have been stipulated in the risk management plan, or
not, but a contingency plan must immediately be put into place to ensure project objectives are
achieved (Kennedy, 2018).
The most appropriate way to handle such a conundrum is to form an ad hoc subsidiary
construction or project delivery company to take over the project. This should be done by the
project owner to ensure no time is lost since cancelling and tendering afresh for the project will
inevitably lead to increased costs and time lost, plus the potential for further cost increases due to
reworks. After setting up the subsidiary construction firm, the next step is to take up all or most
of the site team members that were already working on the project with the now insolvent main
contractor and proceed with the project. This will require novation where a new contract is
substituted for the old contract. This way, all the rights and obligations of the old contract signed
with the new insolvent company are extinguished, allowing work to proceed, but using the skills
and manpower of persons that were already working on the project (Barker, 2014)
Question 2 Part 1
SWOT analysis for the introduction of a disruptive technology (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles –
UAV’s)
The use of UAV’s that are autonomous has become ubiquitous and commonplace in modern
times, especially in the agricultural, extraction, and military/ security sectors. However, any
disruptive technology has its own merits and demerits, and these needs to be evaluated, along
with the attendant opportunities to be explored, and the threats that could affect the disruptive

technology. This is done through a SWOT analysis that identifies and evaluates the strengths,
weaknesses, threats, and opportunities inherent in a project to help with decision making. The
analysis below is for the introduction of Autonomous robots in military and security applications
(the military scenario is used as the organization). Military personnel face numerous challenges,
especially in active battle field situations where they face hazardous risks of injury, death, while
the organization faces the ever present risk of losing and getting a lot of critical equipment
damaged.
Strengths
Cost effectiveness: The cost effectiveness factor makes a very significant difference between
drones and other aerostats in military applications; UAV have a small price outlay, compared to
say, buying a jet fighter or attack helicopter.
Minimal crew: A UAV can be manned and operated remotely by just a single operator; this is
much better in terms or resource (human) allocation because sending out a whole team of say 12
people with an aircraft puts the lives of many more people at risk, while having huge manpower
costs impact.
Reduced risks to human personnel: using UAV’s that are remotely controlled and operated
removes the need to have personnel in the battlefield; human costs of war can sometimes be
astounding, with families left behind in anguish, or injured personnel requiring extensive medical
interventions that further increase costs.
Dual purpose: Undertaking missions in enemy territory usually requires tons of intelligence
information that can only be collected through surveillance. Drones (UAV’s) can be effectively
used for non-invasive surveillance and then be used as attach devices such that they can deploy
missiles or other armament during surveillance missions after gathering enough positive data
Flexibility and versatility: Some military application drones can be deployed from the back of a
truck or even by a soldier walking in the battle field; it can also cover wide areas autonomously
and discreetly; providing valuable intelligence to security units. This obviates the need for
expensive platforms to be used for launching other types of warfare aircraft, such as aircraft
carriers or the need for an airport/ air field ('Dawn', 2018)