https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/62978 2026-04-14T13:13:29Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/118313 Title: An analysis of technical risks in the construction of buildings in Malta Abstract: The aim of this dissertation was to carry out an Analysis of Technical Risks involved in the Construction of Buildings in Malta. After outlining a basic plan for the dissertation to follow through the Literature Review, the author became aware of the existing Technical Risks related to buildings in the global construction sector, namely Design Risks, Risk of Inadequate Materials used in the Construction Process and Workmanship Risks, as well as the Risk Management techniques utilised. From the Literature Review, the author identified areas wheremore knowledge needed to be obtained, specifically relating to the local scenario. Therefore, different sets of questions were formulated in order to gain a more in-depth perspective about the subject and possibly find new kind of Risk Management techniques. The author identified Periti, Geotechnical Engineers, Quality Assurance Engineers/Surveyors and Project Managers as the experts in the construction field to provide answers for such questions. Since the questions were of a Qualitative nature, Interviews were the most appropriate data collection tool and Thematic Analysis was the model chosen in orderto analyse data collected from respondents. The main findings of this Dissertation were that; cost savings in construction projects are prioritised over quality, customers have become accustomed to substandard quality housing, developments are dictated by the developers not by professionals, ground risks are the most severe type of construction risks, human resources are limited in the Maltese construction industry leading to the engagement of inexperienced workers, lack of enforcement and reform from the part of the authorities, lack of coordination between Design and Construction teams and that Health & Safety risks are more prominent than Technical Risks in the Maltese construction industry. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/90199 Title: Blockchain : identifying the potential, establishing the risks and relative mitigants for the banking and insurance industry Abstract: Objective: Locally the initial hype on blockchain was followed by passive interest. It was therefore opportune to present the financial services industry with a study to reveal the potential, risks and relevant mitigants blockchain provides for the insurance and banking sectors. Research was tackled through a process, establishing: - The potential advantages of adopting blockchain technology in the insurance and banking industry. - The current situation with regards to the integration of blockchain within the EU and other European countries. - The technology’s potential adoption in insurance and banking business models, identifying successful case studies. - The main risks and relevant mitigating considerations for this technology Design: The research from this thesis was sourced from; - Academic sources, including research papers and reports available on the internet. - Professional reports and papers from reputable research consultancies, the big 4 accountancy firms and world-renowned experts in the field. - Interviews with; 1. The players who locally were the key consultants mapping out the blockchain roadmap 2. Academics and regulatory bodies who have a strong overall vision of the marketplace and its challenges 3. The banking and insurance professionals who are key decision makers within their respective operations Findings The banking and insurance sectors are on an international scale slowly adopting blockchain within their operations. Blockchain has significant potential, but economies of scale are crucial to ensure viability. This is why the larger multinationals in these sectors are taking the decision and making the material resource investment in this regard. Others are adopting a wait and see approach before deciding to move forward, however, it is likely that such technology will also bring about a number of takeovers and mergers to achieve viability. There are still some challenges associated with the adoption of blockchain. Scalability in terms of transactional efficiency still needs improvement. Interoperability, the ability to interact with legacy and evolving blockchain systems and platforms is also being tackled. Risk issues arising are not dissimilar to other evolving cutting-edge technologies. Within a European context GDPR also presents some challenges, arising from the immutable and decentralised nature of blockchain. Solutions are being identified and established, but some are still in the theoretical stage or testing phase. Players in the industry will likely be tail-end followers because of economies of scale and governments will need to lead the way with initiatives, such as loading certain public records on the system to demonstrate the workability and effectiveness of the technology. Value and conclusion: The study undertaken demystifies an element of uncertainty and provides a bridge for the gaps in research existing on the subject matter. The approach adopted to tackle these gaps was two pronged; - a comprehensive understanding as to the potential of the technology, the evolving and emerging risk elements, challenges and relative mitigants; - the project and its accomplished objectives provide the industry sector players with a structured plan in gaining an insightful understanding when considering the adoption of blockchain. It also provides guidance on the finer and more complex technical elements. Description: M.A.INSURANCE&RISK MANGT. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83314 Title: The impact of forensic accounting on fraud detection Abstract: The aim of this study will be to find patterns that perpetrators use to defraud companies and the various methods of forensic accounting that are used to track such wrongdoings. It is of the aim of this study to try and find patterns of opinion about the research question, like a kind of triangulation method to give further substance to the analysis. Forensic accounting is the only accurate method to achieve profound knowledge on the true financial picture. It is an invaluable tool for any business committed to the minimise losses and increase revenues. The main strong point of protecting against fraud is for a company to be proactive rather than reactive to fraudulent activities. This could be done by proactively strengthening apparent gaps in financial procedure standards, thus reducing the chances of abuse. Handling fraud cases can be a pretty costly and lengthy process which can put a tall on a company's financials. Description: B.COM.(HONS)BANK.&FIN. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/83308 Title: How Revolut is changing the Maltese banking system Abstract: Since Revolut became available in Malta in 2018 this financial institution has experienced a large influx of people turning to it for their banking needs. Revolut was welcomed in Malta and was endorsed by the Prime Minister at the time with the founder of Revolut hailing it to be the revolutionary banking alternative that would provide a technology first substitute for the Maltese people. Although it is a relatively new company, the number of people in Malta that signed up for Revolut stood at 120,00 at September 2019 which is a significant segment of the population, indicating that there could be a large change in the financial sector in Malta afoot. The aim of this dissertation is to examine how Revolut is in fact changing the Maltese financial system as well as analysing whether local traditional banks can take the necessary technological steps to be able to continue serving consumers. Furthermore, it aims to provide recommendations for local banks as to what drives respondents to use Revolut over their financial applications in order to be able to implement changes to improve competitiveness. To carry out this research, data was collected in two forms; one was through surveys and the other through interviews with bank representatives. The surveys focused on determining who uses Revolut and what are the motivations behind it, whereas the interviews focused on obtaining the perspectives of local banks on the changing financial landscape. The key findings of this study were that the majority of respondents make use of Revolut, with the main influencing factors behind why people prefer Revolut being ease of use, convenience and cost. However, it also resulted that where Revolut lacked, local banks thrive such as issues of security, local presence and availability of credit facilities. It is therefore recommended that local banks should address these factors to be able to improve competitiveness in the market. This could be done by including other factors into their banking applications that would either save money for consumers or create an easier and faster method of conducting transactions. Description: B.COM.(HONS)BANK.&FIN. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z