Technical Papers
Jun 17, 2023

Decision-Making Model for Evaluating Joint Venture Contractors in Construction of Complex Infrastructure Megaprojects

Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 149, Issue 9

Abstract

Due to the complexity of infrastructure megaprojects, using joint venture contractors (JVCs) is an effective method to deliver projects. However, this process is constrained by several factors, including the quality of competing JVCs and knowledge level of decision-makers (DMs). However, existing decision-making methods for megaprojects and JVC selection lack comprehensive JVC evaluation criteria and cannot handle decision-making scenarios using incomplete data. To address these issues, in this study, we propose a novel model based on a hesitant fuzzy soft set and a linear programming techniques for multidimensional analysis of preferences called LINMAP, which can process incomplete decision data and improve decision accuracy. Moreover, a set of criteria was constructed from four dimensions (economy, society, environment, and cooperation), which upholds the sustainable development and internal cooperation of the built environment. Finally, by applying the approach to a complex infrastructure megaproject and conducting a sensitivity analysis, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model were verified. Research shows that DMs in different specialized areas choose different criterion subsets, which leads to different decision-making results. For one, allowing DMs to choose a subset of the criteria can improve the accuracy of a decision and reduce the accompanying risks; further, a large gap exists between partial and global evaluations, so partial and global consistence must be included in the context of multicriteria decision-making; finally, cooperation is the premise of competition, i.e., good cooperation has a positive effect on competition, so the sustainable development of a JVC needs to consider not only economic, environmental, and social factors but also cooperation. This study contributes to the knowledge domain of multicriteria decision-making, extends the knowledge domain in terms of clarifying complicated evaluation scenarios in infrastructure megaprojects, and renders practical managerial implications for future complex evaluation processes in infrastructure megaprojects.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

Data Availability Statement

All data and models generated or used during the study appear in the published article.

Acknowledgments

This work was partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 72101141 and 72071105).

References

Abdulrahman, R. S., A. D. Ibrahim, and P. G. Chindo. 2019. “Assessment of risk management maturity of construction organisations in joint venture projects.” J. Eng. Project Prod. Manage. 9 (1): 20–28. https://doi.org/10.2478/jeppm-2019-0004.
Adnan, H., H. E. A. Baharuddin, A. A. Hassan, N. A. A. Mahat, and S. K. Kaharuddin. 2019. “Success factors among industrialised building system (IBS) contractors in Malaysia.” IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 233 (2): 22033. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/233/2/022033.
Adnan, H., M. R. Rosman, Z. Z. A. Rashid, N. M. Yusuwan, and N. A. Bakhary. 2018. “Application of Delphi expert panel in joint venture projects.” IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 117 (1): 12048. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/117/1/012048.
Afolayan, A. H., B. A. Ojokoh, and A. O. Adetunmbi. 2020. “Performance analysis of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process multi-criteria decision support models for contractor selection.” Sci. Afr. 9 (Sep): e00471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00471.
Alptekin, O., and N. Alptekin. 2017. “Analysis of criteria influencing contractor selection using TOPSIS method.” IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 245 (6): 62003. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/245/6/062003.
Alshamrani, O. S. D., M. Saleem, I. K. AlYousif, and A. Alluqmani. 2022. “Development of a pre-qualification and selection framework for construction projects’ contractors in Saudi Arabia.” J. Asian Archit. Build. Eng. 22 (3): 1545–1563. https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2022.2087657.
Amiri, O., M. Rahimi, A. Ayazi, and G. Khazaeni. 2021. “Multi-criteria decision-making model for EPC contractor prequalification: A hybrid approach.” Int. J. Build. Pathol. Adapt. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijbpa-06-2021-0082.
Ataei, Y., A. Mahmoudi, M. R. Feylizadeh, and D.-F. Li. 2020. “Ordinal priority approach (OPA) in multiple attribute decision-making.” Appl. Soft Comput. 86 (Jan): 105893. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2019.105893.
Beg, I., and T. Rashid. 2015. “Ideal solutions for hesitant fuzzy soft sets.” J. Intell. Fuzzy Syst. 30 (1): 143–150. https://doi.org/10.3233/IFS-151740.
Birjandi, A. K., F. Akhyani, R. Sheikh, and S. S. Sana. 2019. “Evaluation and selecting the contractor in bidding with incomplete information using MCGDM method.” Soft Comput. 23 (20): 10569–10585. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00500-019-04050-y.
Cai, J., Z. F. Li, Y. D. Dou, Y. Teng, and M. Q. Yuan. 2022. “Contractor selection for green buildings based on the fuzzy Kano model and TOPSIS: A developer satisfaction perspective.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. https://doi.org/10.1108/ecam-01-2022-0054.
Chang, K. H. 2021. “A novel contractor selection technique using the extended PROMETHEE II method.” Math. Probl. Eng. 2021 (Nov): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/3664709.
Chen, Z. S., X. Zhang, R. M. Rodriguez, W. Pedrycz, and L. Martinez. 2021. “Expertise-based bid evaluation for construction-contractor selection with generalized comparative linguistic ELECTRE III.” Autom. Constr. 125 (May): 103578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2021.103578.
Das, S., and S. Kar. 2013. “The hesitant fuzzy soft set and its application in decision-making.” In Vol. 125 of Proc., Facets of Uncertainties and Applications, 235–247. Kolkata, India: Springer.
Girmscheid, G., and C. Brockmann. 2010. “Inter- and intraorganizational trust in international construction joint ventures.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 136 (3): 353–360. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000142.
Hosseinian, S. M., and M. Tavakoli. 2023. “Markets, hierarchies, or hybrids as alternative governance structures in construction contracts: Transaction cost economics analysis.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 149 (1): 04022149. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002426.
Hwang, B.-G., X. Zhao, and G. S. Yu. 2015. “Risk identification and allocation in underground rail construction joint ventures: Contractors’ perspective.” J. Civ. Eng. Manage. 22 (6): 758–767. https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2014.914095.
Khalifa, R. I., and T. U. Daim. 2021. “Project assessment tools evaluation and selection using the hierarchical decision modeling: Case of state departments of transportation in the United States.” J. Manage. Eng. 37 (1): 05020015. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000858.
Khoso, A. R., and A. M. Yusof. 2020. “Extended review of contractor selection in construction projects.” Can. J. Civ. Eng. 47 (7): 771–789. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2019-0258.
Khoso, A. R., A. M. Yusof, Z. S. Chen, M. J. Skibniewski, K. S. Chin, S. H. Khahro, and S. Sohu. 2022. “Comprehensive analysis of state-of-the-art contractor selection models in construction environment—A critical review and future call.” Socio-Econ. Plann. Sci. 79 (Feb): 101137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seps.2021.101137.
Kog, F., and H. Yaman. 2014. “A meta classification and analysis of contractor selection and prequalification.” Procedia Eng. 85 (Jan): 302–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2014.10.555.
Larimo, J., H. Le Nguyen, and T. Ali. 2016. “Performance measurement choices in international joint ventures: What factors drive them?” J. Bus. Res. 69 (2): 877–887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.07.003.
Leong, W. Y., K. Y. Wong, and W. P. Wong. 2022. “A new integrated multi-criteria decision-making model for resilient supplier selection.” Appl. Syst. Innov. 5 (1): 8–26. https://doi.org/10.3390/asi5010008.
Liang, H. K., S. J. Zhang, and Y. K. Su. 2018a. “Using leading and lagging indicators to select safe contractors at the prequalification stage of construction projects.” Int. J. Occup. Environ. Health 24 (1–2): 61–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/10773525.2018.1517928.
Liang, R., Z. H. Sheng, and X. Y. Wang. 2018b. “Methods dealing with complexity in selecting joint venture contractors for large-scale infrastructure projects.” Complexity 2018 (Jan): 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8705134.
Liang, R., J. W. Zhang, C. Z. Wu, Z. H. Sheng, and X. Y. Wang. 2019. “Joint-venture contractor selection using competitive and collaborative criteria with uncertainty.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 145 (2): 04018123. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001588.
Lu, C., Z. Yu, X. Wang, and Y. Hong. 2020. “Empirical study on the obstacles to the success of joint ventures in construction projects.” Adv. Civ. Eng. 2020 (Jan): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1748198.
Mahmoudi, A., X. Deng, S. A. Javed, and J. Yuan. 2021. “Large-scale multiple criteria decision-making with missing values: Project selection through TOPSIS-OPA.” J. Ambient Intell. Hum. Comput. 12 (10): 9341–9362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-020-02649-w.
Molodtsov, D. 1999. “Soft set theory—First results.” Comput. Math. Appl. 37 (4): 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0898-1221(99)00056-5.
Nguyen, T., L. H. Nguyen, N. Chileshe, and L. Hallo. 2022. “Investigating critical risk factors of selecting joint venture contractors for infrastructure projects implementation in Vietnam.” Int. J. Construct. Manage. (Apr): 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2022.2065076.
Niu, Y. L., H. M. Li, K. H. Ye, A. Mahmoudi, and X. P. Deng. 2022. “Determinants of coopetition relationships in international joint ventures for high-speed rail projects.” KSCE J. Civ. Eng. 26 (5): 2036–2057. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-022-1649-1.
Niu, Y. L., D. Zhao, X. P. Deng, R. Y. Lu, and X. B. Zhao. 2021. “Determinants for coopetition strategies of international joint ventures in high-speed railway projects.” J. Civ. Eng. Manage. 27 (5): 331–345. https://doi.org/10.3846/jcem.2021.15021.
Olanrewaju, A., M. Z. X. Bong, and C. Preece. 2022. “Establishment of pre-qualification criteria for the selection of subcontractors by the prime constructors for building projects.” J. Build. Eng. 45 (Jan): 103644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103644.
Ozorhon, B., D. Arditi, I. Dikmen, and M. T. Birgonul. 2010. “Performance of international joint ventures in construction.” J. Manage. Eng. 26 (4): 209–222. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000022.
Salazar, L. A., G. Ballard, P. Arroyo, and L. F. Alarcón. 2022. “Development of a commitment management system for construction projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 148 (12): 05022012. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002376.
Singh, S., and S. Lalotra. 2018. “Generalized correlation coefficients of the hesitant fuzzy sets and the hesitant fuzzy soft sets with application in group decision-making.” J. Intell. Fuzzy Syst. 35 (3): 3821–3833. https://doi.org/10.3233/JIFS-18719.
Srinivasan, V., and A. D. Shocker. 1973. “Linear programming techniques for multidimensional analysis of preferences.” Psychometrika 38 (3): 337–369. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291658.
Sun, B. Z., W. M. Ma, and X. N. Li. 2017. “Linguistic value soft set-based approach to multiple criteria group decision-making.” Appl. Soft Comput. 58 (Sep): 285–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2017.03.033.
Suo, C. F., Y. M. Li, and Z. H. Li. 2021. “A series of information measures of hesitant fuzzy soft sets and their application in decision making.” Soft Comput. 25 (6): 4771–4784. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00500-020-05485-4.
Sureeyatanapas, P., K. Sriwattananusart, T. Niyamosoth, W. Sessomboon, and S. Arunyanart. 2018. “Supplier selection towards uncertain and unavailable information: An extension of TOPSIS method.” Oper. Res. Perspect. 5 (Jan): 69–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orp.2018.01.005.
Tetteh, M. O., A. P. C. Chan, and G. Nani. 2019. “Combining process analysis method and four-pronged approach to integrate corporate sustainability metrics for assessing international construction joint ventures performance.” J. Cleaner Prod. 237 (Nov): 117781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.117781.
Vardin, A. N., R. Ansari, M. Khalilzadeh, J. Antucheviciene, and R. Bausys. 2021. “An integrated decision support model based on BWM and fuzzy-VIKOR techniques for contractor selection in construction projects.” Sustainability 13 (12): 6933. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126933.
Walker, D. H. T., D. Hans Voordijk, and B. M. Lloyd-Walker. 2016. “Understanding the motivation and context for Alliancing in the Australian construction industry.” Int. J. Managing Projects Bus. 9 (1): 74–93. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-07-2015-0065.
Wang, W., and X. Liu. 2013. “An extended LINMAP method for multi-attribute group decision making under interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment.” Procedia Comput. Sci. 17 (Jan): 490–497. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2013.05.063.
Wei, G. W. 2012. “Hesitant fuzzy prioritized operators and their application to multiple attribute decision making.” Knowl.-Based Syst. 31 (Jul): 176–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.knosys.2012.03.011.
Xia, M. M., and Z. S. Xu. 2011. “Hesitant fuzzy information aggregation in decision making.” Int. J. Approximate Reasoning 52 (3): 395–407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijar.2010.09.002.
Xiang, N., Y. Dou, J. Jiang, K. Yang, and Y. Tan. 2021. “Weapon selection decision-making based on expert trust network under incomplete information.” Syst. Eng. Theory Pract. 41 (3): 759–770. https://doi.org/https://www.webofscience.com/wos/alldb/full-record/CSCD:6938775.
Xiao, L., Z. S. Chen, X. Zhang, J. P. Chang, W. Pedrycz, and K. S. Chin. 2020. “Bid evaluation for major construction projects under large-scale group decision-making environment and characterized expertise levels.” Int. J. Comput. Intell. Syst. 13 (1): 1227–1242. https://doi.org/10.2991/ijcis.d.200801.002.
Xu, Z. S., and X. L. Zhang. 2013. “Hesitant fuzzy multi-attribute decision making based on TOPSIS with incomplete weight information.” Knowl.-Based Syst. 52 (3): 53–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.knosys.2013.05.011.
Zhang, J. L., X. W. Qi, and C. Y. Liang. 2018a. “Tackling complexity in green contractor selection for mega infrastructure projects: A hesitant fuzzy linguistic MADM approach with considering group attitudinal character and attributes’ interdependency.” Complexity 2018 (Dec): 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4903572.
Zhang, N., X. Deng, X. Zhao, and T. Chang. 2018b. “Exploring the sources of contractors’ competitive advantage on international HSR construction projects.” Int. J. Civ. Eng. 17 (7): 1115–1129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-018-0373-1.
Zhang, X. L., Z. S. Xu, and X. M. Xing. 2016. “Hesitant fuzzy programming technique for multidimensional analysis of hesitant fuzzy preferences.” OR Spectrum 38 (3): 789–817. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00291-015-0420-0.
Zhong, S., and H. Elzarka. 2022. “A hybrid grey system theory–based subcontractor selection model for high-stakes construction projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 148 (6): 04022037. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002294.
Zhou, W., M. Liu, and Z. S. Xu. 2021. “Evolutionary computation of the generalized hesitant fuzzy envelopment analysis and its application in the contractor selection of green building project.” In Proc., IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 1–30. New York: IEEE.
Zhou, X. Q., Q. M. Xiao, and W. Li. 2015. “A group decision making approach based on hesitant fuzzy soft set theory.” INFOR: Inf. Syst. Oper. Res. 53 (3): 113–124. https://doi.org/10.3138/infor.53.3.113.
Zhu, J.-W., L.-N. Zhou, L. Li, and W. Ali. 2020. “Decision simulation of construction project delivery system under the sustainable construction project management.” Sustainability 12 (6): 2202. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062202.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 149Issue 9September 2023

History

Received: Nov 22, 2022
Accepted: Apr 3, 2023
Published online: Jun 17, 2023
Published in print: Sep 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Nov 17, 2023

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

ASCE Technical Topics:

Authors

Affiliations

Associate Researcher, School of Management and Engineering, Nanjing Univ., Nanjing 210093, China. Email: [email protected]
Postgraduate Student, School of Management, Shanghai Univ., Shanghai 200444, China. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3582-5400. Email: [email protected]
Research Professor, School of Engineering Audit, Nanjing Audit Univ., Nanjing 211815, China; Associate Professor, School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin Univ., Perth, WA 6102, Australia (corresponding author). ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6080-7530. Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share