A Weighted Fuzzy Social Network Analysis-Based Approach for Modeling and Analyzing Relationships Among Risk Factors Affecting Project Delays

Abstract

In the last decade, it has been increasingly recognized that efforts to address project delays without understanding the relationships among risk factors (RFs) could be futile. In light of the limitations of previous research that has addressed this issue, this study seeks to contribute to the literature by developing a novel weighted fuzzy social network analysis (SNA)-based approach, which accounts for the likelihood of occurrence and the impact of RFs on one another. To validate its practicality, the approach is applied to a demonstrative study in which the causes of delays in real-world electrical installation projects were modeled and analyzed. In addition to providing a holistic view of relationships among RFs, the proposed approach enables engineering managers to identify the root causes of delays and their corresponding critical propagation paths. Compared to other approaches in the literature, the value of the approach lies in its simplicity and utility for supporting engineering managers in developing effective risk-mitigation plans to minimize the severity of project delays.

Keywords:

• modeling
• network
• project delays
• risk factors

EMJ Focus Areas:

• Decision making & risk management
• program & project management

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hamdi Bashir

Hamdi Bashir holds a PhD degree from McGill University, Canada. Currently, he is a Professor of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management at the University of Sharjah, UAE. Prior to joining this university, he held faculty positions at Sultan Qaboos University, University of Alberta, and Concordia University. Bashir’s research interest focuses on modeling and analyzing complexity in engineering management areas using data mining and graph theory related techniques. He is a senior member of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers.

Sadeque Hamdan

Sadeque Hamdan is an Assistant Professor of Operations Management at the University of Kent. In 2020, Dr Hamdan obtained a PhD in Complex Systems Engineering, where he developed several optimisation models to solve air traffic flow management problems. His main research interest includes using operations research and operations management tools to solve problems in supply chain and logistics.

Udechukwu Ojiako

Udechukwu Ojiako is a professor of Engineering Management at the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Udi currently serves as an Associate Editor of Production Planning & Control. He holds a Ph.D. in Project Management (University of Northumbria ‘05), a Ph.D. in Business (University of Hull ‘15) and a third Ph.D. in Law (Aberystwyth University ‘22). Udi’s research interest is decision making in project centric operational environments and their intersection with law.

Salah Haridy

Salah Haridy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management at University of Sharjah, UAE. He received his Ph.D. from the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore in 2014. He is the recipient of the 2013 Mary G. and Joseph Natrella Scholarship awarded by the American Statistical Association and the 2014 Richard A. Freund International Scholarship awarded by the American Society for Quality. He is an ASQ Certified Six Sigma Green Belt. His research interests cover quality engineering, Six Sigma, statistical process control and design of experiments.

Mohammad Shamsuzzaman

Mohammad Shamsuzzaman is a Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management at University of Sharjah, UAE. He obtained his Ph.D. in Systems and Engineering Management in 2005 from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. His current research focuses on statistical process control, process improvement using Lean Six Sigma, quality in maintenance, design of experiments, applied statistics, and multi-criteria decision-making. He is a member of ASQ and IEOM Society International.

Hassan Ahmed Al Zarooni

Hassan Ahmed Al Zarooni holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Management from University of Sharjah, UAE. He earned his B.Sc. in Electrical Power Engineering from Higher Colleges of Technology – HCT-UAE, and MS.c. in Engineering Management System from AUS - American University of Sharjah, UAE. His research interest is infrastructure management, an area that is his closely linked to his 20-years of experience in the electrical services sector.