Monte Carlo Simulation Approach to Support Alliance Team Selection
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 135, Issue 10
Abstract
The alliance concept is similar to the design build project delivery system. However, it is denoted by a special form of partnership between the owner and the design-build team, where the owner is very involved in the project. This type of delivery systems is gaining popularity as many infrastructure projects require the owner to order materials ahead of time, before engaging the design-build team in the project. As in design-build, the selection of the engineer-procure-construct team depends not only on the price but also on qualitative factors. This paper lays out the framework that facilitates selecting the best alliance team for a project by quantifying the evaluation factors and combining them into a single score. Using a Monte Carlo simulation and varying all the factors relevant to the decision problem can reveal biases present in the evaluation to assist in making the best possible decision. A case study dealing with a large utility project illustrates this methodology.
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Acknowledgments
The writers thank Gary Whited, P.E., and the University of Wisconsin-Madison CEE 698–004 Spring 08 class for providing useful critique and advice while the paper was being developed.
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© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: May 8, 2008
Accepted: Apr 16, 2009
Published online: Apr 17, 2009
Published in print: Oct 2009
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