Effects of practitioner attributes on PPP project risk assessment in developing countries: empirical study of Vietnam

Purpose Risk remains a decisive factor influencing the successful implementation of public–private partnership (PPP) projects, particularly within developing-country contexts. This study therefore aims to identify the most critical risk factors in PPP projects and to investigate how practitioners’ characteristics affect their assessments of these risks. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive list of potential PPP risks was first consolidated through an extensive review of previous research and refined via consultations with experienced professionals. Subsequently, survey data were gathered from 202 experts involved in PPP projects. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA and hierarchical regression, were then applied to examine how practitioners’ roles, experience and knowledge influence their evaluations of PPP risks. Findings This research proposes a classification and prioritisation of key risks across the PPP project lifecycle, thereby providing useful insights for practitioners. The results reveal that practitioners’ project roles and risk-related knowledge significantly affect risk assessment (RA), while professional experience and sector affiliation have negligible impacts. Furthermore, the interaction between practitioners’ roles and their level of risk knowledge shows a moderating effect on RA. Originality/value This study extends PPP risk research in Vietnam by not only classifying and prioritising key risks across the PPP project lifecycle (design–construction–operation) but also examining how practitioners’ attributes shape RA using a survey data of 202 PPP practitioners. The findings highlight the importance of role-based perspectives and risk-related knowledge in producing more consistent risk assessments, thereby supporting more coherent PPP risk governance.