Title: Comparative analysis of multi-criteria decision making methods in choosing contract type for highway construction in Greece

Authors: Fani Antoniou; Georgios N. Aretoulis

Addresses: Egnatia Odos S.A., P.O. Box 60030, 6th km Thessaloniki-Thermi, Greece ' Department of Construction Equipment and Management, School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Campus, Egnatia Street, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract: How to compensate highway construction contractors is a complex decision that should be taken based on scientific evidence. Four different multi-criteria decision making methods, i.e., the multi-attribute utility theory, the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal situation, the preference ranking organisation method for enriched evaluation (PROMETHEE) and the PROMETHEE group decision support system method were applied to two case study projects with different characteristics and awarding authorities' (AAs') needs in order to choose between seven different contract type based on nine selection criteria. The results highlight the need to establish the availability of new CTs in the public works law in Greece and showed that all methods have the potential to become decision support systems that can be employed for improving objectivity in this decision making process as if the project characteristics and AA's needs are properly defined at the onset.

Keywords: multi-criteria decision making; MCDM; TOPSIS; utility theory; PROMETHEE; group decisions; highways; contracts; public service; Greece.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2018.088821

International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 2018 Vol.17 No.1, pp.1 - 28

Received: 03 May 2017
Accepted: 01 Aug 2017

Published online: 19 Dec 2017 *

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