A Hybrid Grey System Theory–Based Subcontractor Selection Model for High-Stakes Construction Projects
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 148, Issue 6
Abstract
Proper selection of subcontractors should consider multiple criteria such as cost, schedule, quality, and effective project management and control capabilities. Several multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) models that utilize a weighted score have been developed to help contractors select subcontractors. Although such models are capable of considering multiple evaluation criteria, they may unintentionally cover up some subcontractors’ deficiencies that can significantly impact project success. Considering such deficiencies is particularly important for high-stakes construction projects. The paper proposes a hybrid grey entropy relational analysis (GERA) model for subcontractor selection that integrates grey relational analysis (GRA) and the grey entropy model (GEM). The proposed GERA model evaluates subcontractors’ performance from two perspectives; proximity degree and equilibrium degree. The proximity degree is used to aggregate a subcontractor’s attributes into a comprehensive score, while the equilibrium degree is used to expose subcontractors’ deficiencies that should exclude them from selection. A case study is used to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed model. The proposed model can be easily adapted to various decision-making scenarios with similar requirements.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published paper.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of Hunan Province, China, Grant # 19C0063.
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Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 148 • Issue 6 • June 2022
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© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Jul 16, 2020
Accepted: Feb 22, 2022
Published online: Apr 5, 2022
Published in print: Jun 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Sep 5, 2022
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