Vander Schaaf, R E (2008) A system-of-system (sos) approach for improved decision-making in infrastructure project selection problems. PhD thesis, Purdue University, USA.
Abstract
Decision-makers facing project selection decisions have a continuing need for quantitative methods that enable informed decisions to be made in the midst of system complexity. A particular source of complexity stems from the interaction of involved organizations that bring differing perspectives and objectives, i.e., decision dynamics of a system-of-organizations (SoO). This research investigates the impacts of (i) organizational topology, (ii) stakeholder relationships (link traits: levels of competition, communication, and stakeholder experience and knowledge) on that topology, and (iii) civil infrastructure network status (condition, type, capacity) on decision-making processes in a SoO. Additionally, it explores whether an agent-based simulation can provide a realistic quantitative model that can translate to actionable information for decision makers for improved project selection. The framework developed is validated using the testbed of organizational decision-making under a constrained environment for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) humanitarian project selection in a Host Nation (HN), where interconnected and sometimes conflicting objectives among a system of organizations are present. Discernment of which projects in particular advance the multiple causes is difficult. In the midst of complexities involving diverse locales and competing organizational interests, decision-makers need relevant, actionable information that uncovers good solutions in the SoO. This research takes advantage of the relatively recent developments in the field of agent-based modeling (ABM) and uses ABM simulations of the organizational topology that include the relationship between the entities (e.g. link traits) in the DoD humanitarian infrastructure project selection process. Additionally, 'greedy' multi-objective optimization models were constructed to establish both a baseline and bounded set of outcomes for a single organization to compare with the SoO context implemented in the agent-based simulation. This investigation demonstrated that modifying the topology of the SoO resulted in significant changes in the types of projects selected. From a methodological perspective, the comparison of the 'greedy' optimization model with the ABM demonstrated that an agent-based approach to project selection was viable and for the testbed provided a better match with historical project selection than the optimization model. Further, the ABM can be used to investigate the effects of changing the topology of the organization, which is not possible with a more traditional optimization modeling approach. The condition of the existing infrastructure networks was shown to have minimal impact on the projects selected, although it did affect the material cost of the projects. An examination of the role of corruption/bribes showed that the U.S. project selection strategy was susceptible to bribery within the HN nomination process.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | DeLaurentis, D A and Abraham, D M |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | competition; complexity; optimization; communication; decision making; infrastructure project; stakeholder; simulation |
| Index terms: | strategy, corruption, quantitative method, competition, decision-making, complexity, topology, agent, humanitarian, agent-based modelling, decision-making process, investigation, project selection, dynamics, multi-objective optimization, interaction, modelling, infrastructure project |
| Subjects: | behavioral psychology, systems engineering, professional ethics, infrastructure and transport systems, decision analysis, market analysis, algorithms, geometry and topology, management, analytical methods, data analysis and analytics, modelling and simulation, principle, value management, practitioner, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Legal Issues, Ethics, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Risk Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here