Almost all researchers working in the field of construction dispute resolution agree that disputes are inevitable and may become destructive in the construction projects. Disputes between project participants have also been identified as the principal causes of poor performance in construction projects. Disputes are held liable for prolonged delays in implementation, interruptions and sometimes suspensions. Other detrimental effects of construction disputes are listed as increase in project costs, undermining the team spirit, and above all, damaging business relationships. Selection of dispute resolution method to be used is regarded as the key component of the dispute resolution process by many researchers. However, the complex, ever-changing and multi-dimensional structure of the construction projects render the selection of appropriate dispute resolution methods, which require the consideration of multiple and conflicting criteria regarding technical, financial, social, economic and legal issues, a very complicated task for a human's cognitive abilities. Thus, without the appropriate support, the selection of dispute resolution is made based on personal experience and knowledge (subjective approach) rather than a consideration of the requirements of the dispute and project (objective approach) in the existing practice of project managers. Along with the theoretical analysis of dispute resolution process in construction, a workshop conducted with participants from the Turkish construction industry have both revealed the need for decision making support in dispute resolution method selection. Vigorous models to cope with this need, however, appear to be lacking. In recognition of this inadequacy, development of a model to support the decision making of the project managers in the selection of appropriate dispute resolution method in construction projects is required. In this context, the aim of this research is to develop a decision making model that (1) can offer solutions in the presence of contradictory criteria, (2) is capable of considering the ever-changing conditions of projects by allowing the user to assign different weights to the criteria, (3) enables the users to analyze and construct the dispute systematically, (4) can be used in different phases and conditions of projects and (5) is comprehensible and practical for project managers, in order to help the project managers identify the most appropriate dispute resolution method in given conditions.The development of the model is realized in two phases; development of the approach adopted in the model by theoretical research and determination of the model components by empirical research. While the approach adopted in the model is structured as a universal approach and is applicable in all jurisdictions, determination of the model components by field surveys enables adaptation of the model to the specific conditions of the jurisdiction in which it will be used. This paper focuses on the development of the approach adopted in the model by theoretical research. The research steps in this phase are (1) selection of the decision making method, (2) selection of the analysis technique, (3) determination of the model construct and (4) design of the methodology for determination of the model components in specific jurisdictions. As a result of the extensive analysis of various decision making methods, multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methodology is found to be the most suitable for the model aims determined above. Investigation of different analysis techniques in terms of consistency, comprehensiveness and quantity of operations required, revealed that weighted sum technique (WSM) is compatible with the aims identified for the model. Modular construct is adopted so that the model can be used in all phases and conditions in a construction project. Determination of decision criteria and alternatives are designed as a survey to enable adaptation of the model to the specific conditions of the jurisdiction / industry in which it will be used. On the other hand, determination of the utility factors is designed as an expert panel in order to embed opinions of the experts into the model. The results show that the approach formulated with multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method, weigted sum technique (WSM), modular construct and the combined survey and expert panel methodology to determine the components is compatible with the aims identified for the model. Keywords: Dispute resolution, multi-criteria decision making, model building.Uyuşmazlık çözüm sürecinin kuramsal analizi ve çalışma kapsamında Türk inşaat sektöründen katılımcılarla gerçekleştirilen çalıştay, inşaat projelerinde uyuşmazlık çözüm yöntemi seçimi sürecinde problemler bulunduğunu ve karar verme modellerine gereksinme olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Ancak, literatürde bu amaçla kullanılabilecek etkin modeller mevcut değildir. Bu eksikliği dikkate alarak, çalışma kapsamında (1) çelişkili kriterlerin bulunduğu karmaşık uyuşmazlık durumlarında çözüm üretebilen, (2) inşaat projelerinde sürekli değişen gereksinimleri değerlendirebilen, (3) uyuşmazlığın kullanıcı tarafından analitik olarak incelenmesine ve yapılandırılmasına imkân veren, (4) projelerin çeşitli aşama ve koşullarında kullanılabilen ve (5) proje yöneticileri için kavraması kolay ve kullanışlı bir karar verme modeli geliştirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Modelin geliştirilmesi; kuramsal çalışmalarla modelde benimsenen yaklaşımın oluşturulması ve alan çalışmalarıyla model bileşenlerinin belirlenmesi olarak iki aşamada gerçekleştirilmiştir. Benimsenen yaklaşım tüm hukuk sistemlerinde geçerli evrensel bir yaklaşım olarak yapılandırılmış olmakla birlikte, model bileşenlerinin alan çalışmalarıyla belirlenmesi, modelin kullanılacağı hukuk sistemine özgü koşullara adapte edilmesini sağlamaktadır. Bu makalede, uyuşmazlık çözüm yöntemi karar verme modelinde benimsenen yaklaşım açıklanmaktadır. Bu kapsamdaki araştırma adımları; modelin hedefleri doğrultusunda karar verme metodunun seçimi, modelde kullanılacak analiz tekniğinin belirlenmesi, işleyişin kurgulanması ve alan çalışmalarının metodolojisinin tasarlanmasıdır. Sonuçlar, çok kriterli karar verme metodu, ağırlıklandırılmış toplam tekniği ve modüler kurgu ile geliştirilen yaklaşımın, model için belirlenen hedeflere en uygun yaklaşım olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Uyuşmazlık çözümü, çok kriterli karar verme, model geliştirme
