The New Rules of Risk Include an Increased Threat of Contractor Default

The common wisdom has been that contractors' financing deteriorates from poor management. The reality today is that the failure of one or more contractors on a project can have a significant impact on the financial condition of the other contractors on the job. Your contractor is, literally, only as good as their last job.

Even prequalification isn't an absolute guarantee against default. If the trend continues, contractors may need to learn a whole new skill set: how to manage defaults to minimize exposure.

Author Thomas C. Schleifer, PhD, is a management consultant, author and lecturer. Further, Schleifer is a research professor at the Del E. Webb School of Construction at Arizona State University. He can be reached at tschleifer@q.com or 480-945-7680.

Thomas C. Schleifer, PhD, is a turnaround expert and former professor at Arizona State University. He serves as a consultant to sureties and contractors and can be contacted via his blog at letstalkbusiness.net.

Post a comment to this article

60% of workers are exposed to heights greater than 5 ft daily, and workers' compensation from injury is more than $7B - it's time for construction leaders to take measures to reduce risk and create a safer work environment. We'll explore how technology can improve construction site safety and help prevent accidents before they happen.