Understanding complexity at the pre-construction stage of project planning for construction projects

Barani Shikhrobat, M., Flanagan, R. and Kabiri, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5311-7304 (2025) Understanding complexity at the pre-construction stage of project planning for construction projects. American Journal of Operations Research, 15 (1). pp. 1-27. ISSN 2160-8849 doi: 10.4236/ajor.2025.151001

Abstract/Summary

The construction projects’ dynamic and interconnected nature requires a comprehensive understanding of complexity during pre-construction. Traditional tools such as Gantt charts, CPM, and PERT often overlook uncertainties. This study identifies 20 complexity factors through expert interviews and literature, categorising them into six groups. The Analytical Hierarchy Process evaluated the significance of different factors, establishing their corresponding weights to enhance adaptive project scheduling. A system dynamics (SD) model is developed and tested to evaluate the dynamic behaviour of identified complexity factors. The model simulates the impact of complexity on total project duration (TPD), revealing significant deviations from initial deterministic estimates. Data collection and analysis for reliability tests, including normality and Cronbach alpha, to validate the model’s components and expert feedback. Sensitivity analysis confirmed a positive relationship between complexity and project duration, with higher complexity levels resulting in increased TPD. This relationship highlights the inadequacy of static planning approaches and underscores the importance of addressing complexity dynamically. The study provides a framework for enhancing planning systems through system dynamics and recommends expanding the model to ensure broader applicability in diverse construction projects.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-pure-test.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/123154
Identification Number/DOI	10.4236/ajor.2025.151001
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Central Services Science > School of the Built Environment > Construction Management and Engineering
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