Ortiz, S S (2025) Strengthening construction supply chains: An exploration of decision-making frameworks for resilience in the face of black swan event. PhD thesis, Purdue University, Indiana, USA.
Abstract
The construction industry faces increasing vulnerabilities due to Black Swan Events (BSEs), high-impact, unpredictable disruptions that reshape global supply chains. Recent events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Suez Canal Blockade, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have exposed weaknesses in procurement strategies, leading to significant delays and cost escalations. The present research develops a decision-making framework to enhance supply chain resilience, focusing on procurement challenges associated with critical construction components such as electrical switchgear.The study explore a decision-making framework to enhance supply chain resilience in construction procurement, particularly under disruptions caused by BSEs. The study follows a mixed method, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches. Surveys validate the industry's supply chain challenges, while semi-structured interviews with industry professionals provide insights into decision-making processes under extreme uncertainty. The findings are synthesized into a three-module framework: (1) a decision tree model mapping procurement mitigation strategies based on industry responses, (2) a Choosing by Advantages (CBA) methodology for evaluating and selecting mitigation strategies under constrained conditions, and (3) planning of the implementation strategy integrating project management and contractual frameworks to guide structured execution.Industry professionals validated the framework through structured reviews and feedback sessions. The findings highlight mitigation strategies, emphasizing early procurement, alternative sourcing, and contract adaptability as key resilience measures. The research contributes to the construction industry's preparedness by providing a structured decision-support tool, enabling professionals to navigate future supply chain disruptions effectively. The framework offers a foundation for industry adoption and future studies exploring AI-driven decision analytics for risk mitigation.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Hubbard, B and Kang, K |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | COVID-19; Ukraine; construction procurement; feedback; future studies; uncertainty |
| Index terms: | procurement strategy, decision-making process, mixed method, pandemic, future study, project management, construction industry, implementation, module, decision tree, construction procurement, construction supply chain, survey, face, strategy, Ukraine, canal, COVID-19, interview, risk mitigation, cost escalation, mitigation, adaptability, switchgear, supply chain resilience, strengthening, vulnerability, methodology, decision-making, exploration, mapping |
| Subjects: | financial risk, Geography, research methods, spatial and geospatial analysis, structural engineering, architectural elements, environmental hazards, supply chain resilience, user focus, contractual arrangements, environmental resource management, psychology, project management theory and practice, economics, management, health risk and incident analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, industry analysis, decision analysis, construction logistics, research design and methodology, data collection methods, electrical systems |
| Topics: | Supply Chain Management, Health and Safety, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Geographical Context, Risk Management, Sustainability, Procurement, Design Practice, Organizational Design, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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