Every business involves risk, but due to its nature, construction business involves more risk than many other industries. Therefore, risk assessment is indispensable to the success of construction companies in terms of, preventing dramatic financial losses. When the decision process for expanding the operations in the international construction market is concerned, it becomes more important for companies to analyze the risk of the target country. For this reason, construction firms benefit from many different risk assessment methods. Contractors prevalent practice of risk assessment is identifying related risks and making an evaluation relying on their personal judgments (without substantial explicit support), but none of the applied methods is construction specific. To overcome this, a construction specific country Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS) is prepared. While preparing this construction specific RBS, not only macro level country risks but also market risks for construction are considered in order to reflect the real risks of performing construction business in foreign countries. Consequently, a tentative country RBS specific for construction industry is constructed and its reliability is tested by interviews carried out with six professionals from four Turkish construction companies operating in international markets. After finalization of the RBS, utilization method of practical aspects of RBS is questioned by interviewing the experts. Finally, a case study is conducted to propose a company-specific system for iv the implementation of RBS. The case study findings demonstrate the applicability of RBS and its potential as a systematic country risk assessment tool.

This study is an initial attempt to investigate the relationship between banks and developers in Stockholm and its regions. It gives a good impression about the field of construction and project developments in terms of the finance and the negotiations associated with these types of projects. Main actors of the Stockholm’s construction financing market were of major interest for this study. On this regard, the relationships and ramifications of this group were investigated by using a qualitative and quantitative research method. The aim of the study was to analyze the attitudes of banks and developers, their partnerships and individual expectations. This empirical study was conducted between January and April 2015. In order to give a brief overview of the construction market in Stockholm, the study starts with an explanation of different characteristics and unique features of the real estate and construction field. Based on this, the study continues with a detailed presentation of the financing process with its loan terms, negotiations and regulations. In a subsequent chapter, the risk part within construction will be emphasized and explained. The theory part of the study closes with an exposition of the transaction cost theory and strategy as well as with a portrayal of the decision-making process of banks and developers in a construction project, the different types of partnerships and the according advantages and disadvantages. While keeping the above listed aspects in mind, all study participants were asked for their opinion on partnerships between banks and developers. In general, the study results prove the existence of a significant interest in partnerships between banks and developers. For both parties, a close relationship provides many benefits like a lower time-consumption or smoother loan negotiations. However, the following analysis also shows that due to reserved attitudes and a low interest of banks to change their investment strategies in construction and development projects, it seems very difficult to meet the full expectations of both parties on a level where both sides would agree on entering a strategic partnership. / Den här studien är ett inledande försök i att undersöka förhållandet mellan banker och byggföretag i Stockholm och dess tillhörande närområden. Den ger en god överblick i byggande och byggprojekt, framförallt när det kommer till finansiering och förhandlingar associerade med byggprojekt. Huvudintressenterna i studien var de största aktörerna på Stockholms bygg- och finansieringsområde. Dessa grupper undersöktes med hjälp av både en kvalitativ och en kvantitativ metod med mål att analysera deras attityder, partnerskap och individuella förväntningar på närmare sammarbeten. För att ge en bra överblick av byggbranschen i Stockholm så inleds studien med en förklaring av karaktärsdrag hos fastigheter och byggande. Studien fortsätter sedan med en mer detaljerad redovisning av finansieringsprocessen och dess lånevillkor, förhandlingar och regelverk. Sedan i följande avsnitt så presenteras och förklaras de risker som kan kopplas till byggande. Teoridelen av studien avslutas med en utläggning av en teori kring transaktionskostnader, relevanta strategier, en skildring av beslutsfattande av banker och byggföretag samt olika sorter av partnerskap och dess tillhörande för- och nackdelar. Med teorin i bakhuvudet så ställdes aktörer på marknaden frågor om vad de anser kring partnerskap mellan banker och byggföretag. Sammanfattningsvis, studiens resultat visar på ett tydligt intresse av partnerskap mellan banker och byggföretag. För både banker och byggföretag så genererar ett nära sammarbete många fördelar så som kortare projekt med smidigare förhandlingar. Dock så visar analysen att på grund av återhållsamma attityder och ett begränsat intresse från banker att ändra på sin investeringsstrategi kopplat till byggprojekt så verkar det svårt att uppfylla de förväntningar som de båda parterna har på ett partnerskap dem emellan.