Developing a Fuzzy Multicriteria Decision-Making Model for Selecting Design-Build Operational Variations
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 137, Issue 12
Abstract
Many academic researchers have conducted studies on the selection of a design-build (DB) delivery method; however, there are few studies on the selection of DB operational variations, which pose challenges to many clients. The selection of a DB operational variation is a multicriteria decision-making process that requires clients to objectively evaluate the performance of each DB operational variation with reference to the selection criteria. This evaluation process is often characterized by subjectivity and uncertainty. To resolve this deficiency, the current investigation aimed to establish a fuzzy multicriteria decision-making (FMCDM) model for selecting the most suitable DB operational variation. A three-round Delphi questionnaire survey was conducted to identify the selection criteria and their relative importance. A fuzzy set theory approach, namely, the modified horizontal approach with the bisector error method, was applied to establish the fuzzy membership functions, which enables clients to perform quantitative calculations on the performance of each DB operational variation. The FMCDM was developed using the weighted-mean method to aggregate the overall performance of DB operational variations with regard to the selection criteria. The proposed FMCDM model enables clients to perform quantitative calculations in a fuzzy decision-making environment and provides a useful tool to cope with different project attributes.
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Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 137 • Issue 12 • December 2011
Pages: 1176 - 1184
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 19, 2010
Accepted: Mar 14, 2011
Published online: Mar 16, 2011
Published in print: Dec 1, 2011
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