Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods Application in Supply Chain Management: A Systematic Literature Review

Over the last decade, a large number of research papers, certified courses, professional development programs and scientific conferences have addressed supply chain management (SCM), thereby attesting to its significance and importance. SCM is a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem because throughout its process, different criteria related to each supply chain (SC) activity and their associated sub-criteria must be considered. Often, these criteria are conflicting in nature. For their part, MCDM methods have also attracted significant attention among researchers and practitioners in the field of SCM. The aim of this chapter is to conduct a systematic literature review of published articles in the application of MCDM methods in SCM decisions at the strategic, tactical and operational levels. This chapter considers major SC activities such as supplier selection, manufacturing, warehousing and logistics. A total of 140 published articles (from 2005 to 2017) were studied and categorized, and gaps in the literature were identified. This chapter is useful for academic researchers, decision makers and experts to whom it will provide a better understanding of the application of MCDM methods in SCM, at various levels of the decision-making process, and establish guidelines for selecting an appropriate MCDM method for managing SC activities

A study of cost overruns in complex multi-stakeholder road projects in the United Arab Emirates

Cost performance is a concern particularly for Complex multi-stakeholder projects in the form of critical infrastructure. Evidence suggests that critical infrastructure projects in the United Arab Emirates (‘UAE’) experience substantial cost overruns. Cost overruns and its consequences in terms of project failure can lead to substantial negative and unintended consequences on infrastructure project systems, especially noting that it is sector characterized by substantial interrelatedness and interdependence between different projects. For these reasons, understanding the causes and possible solutions to cost overruns as a form of project failure is of paramount importance. To undertake such a study, data were collected through structured questionnaire survey (focused on 44 common factors), of various project stakeholders with analysis focusing on frequency, severity and importance indices. Findings suggest five major reasons leading to cost overruns in UAE infrastructure projects as ‘Delays in decisions making by approval authorities’, ‘Changes in client requirements’, ‘Construction cost underestimation’, ‘Poor site management’ and ‘Frequency of variation orders and additional works’

Overcoming ignorance and the unknown in UAE projects : the role of improvisation

This study sets out to examine how the effects of ignorance and the unknown in project settings can be overcome through project manager (practitioner) improvisation. Data are obtained from 389 project management practitioners drawn from a range of public, private, and semi-government entities/organizations within the emirate of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates). Sampling is undertaking using an 11 factor 'ignorance–unknown–improvisation'-focused questionnaire developed from the literature. The variables considered as moderators include 'self-efficacy', 'behavioral integration', 'experience', 'teamwork quality', 'real-time information', 'communication', 'memory', 'knowledge creation', 'knowledge sharing', 'utilization of documented knowledge', and 'age'. Analysis of the data is via Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS). The findings of the study suggest the existence of four variables ('experience', 'teamwork quality', 'memory', and 'age') that serve to influence the improvisation-based practices that project management practitioners/managers are likely to employ when seeking to overcome the effects of ignorance and the unknown in projects. The findings from the study do facilitate the development of an improvisation-awareness typology that is leaning towards facilitating project management practitioner efficacy as relates to improvisation

Risk factor prioritization in infrastructure handover to operations

Worldwide, there are numerous reports of major infrastructure projects failing at handover to the operations phase following completion of the project development and delivery phase. While poor risk identification and prioritization has been identified as one of the causes of this failure, we know little about the specific risk factors project beneficiaries consider most important at this point of handover. With these issues in mind, we draw on a survey of key dry port project beneficiaries in Brazil to examine and prioritize the risks considered most important at handover to operations. Paying particular attention to project beneficiary heterogeneity and incongruence, we find eight key risk factors – ‘Cost’, ‘Location’, ‘Infrastructure’, ‘Accessibility’, ‘Operational’, ‘Economic’, ‘Political and social’, and ‘Environment’ that warrant emphasis. We reveal congruence among some project beneficiaries in terms of prioritization. We also find variations in handover to operations risks based on project characteristics. However, these characteristics appear to have very limited impact on prioritization. Our findings further point to risk blind spots at critical moments of project handover to operations. Overall, this paper contributes to project risk management/prioritization literature in the context of handover to operations

Risk factor prioritization in infrastructure handover to operations

Worldwide, there are numerous reports of major infrastructure projects failing at handover to the operations phase following completion of the project development and delivery phase. While poor risk identification and prioritization has been identified as one of the causes of this failure, we know little about the specific risk factors project beneficiaries consider most important at this point of handover. With these issues in mind, we draw on a survey of key dry port project beneficiaries in Brazil to examine and prioritize the risks considered most important at handover to operations. Paying particular attention to project beneficiary heterogeneity and incongruence, we find eight key risk factors – ‘Cost’, ‘Location’, ‘Infrastructure’, ‘Accessibility’, ‘Operational’, ‘Economic’, ‘Political and social’, and ‘Environment’ that warrant emphasis. We reveal congruence among some project beneficiaries in terms of prioritization. We also find variations in handover to operations risks based on project characteristics. However, these characteristics appear to have very limited impact on prioritization. Our findings further point to risk blind spots at critical moments of project handover to operations. Overall, this paper contributes to project risk management/prioritization literature in the context of handover to operations