RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT · 2024

Comparing Fuzzy Methods for Contractor Selection

For owners, the contribution is a practical way to document qualification decisions and examine uncertainty before awarding work.

Construction analyticsComparative decision modelJournal article

The question

Public owners need defensible contractor rankings, but multiple qualifications and incomplete information make unaided comparison difficult. This paper examined whether two fuzzy multi-criteria techniques could support a more consistent decision.

What we did

The study used the Buckley method to assign fuzzy weights to selection criteria, then ranked contractors with fuzzy TOPSIS and fuzzy SAW. A case study and sensitivity analysis were used to compare how the two models responded to the same decision structure.

What we found

Both methods provide an explicit route from expert judgments to contractor rankings.
The comparison makes differences between fuzzy TOPSIS and fuzzy SAW visible rather than hiding them inside a single score.
Sensitivity testing shows how stable the recommendation is when assumptions or weights change.

Why it matters

For owners, the contribution is a practical way to document qualification decisions and examine uncertainty before awarding work. The method is especially relevant where fairness and transparency are essential. Read together, the question, method, and findings show how this publication fits within Tafazzoli’s broader program of connecting built-environment evidence with practical decisions. The page intentionally separates documented results from interpretation and directs readers to the complete paper for methodological detail. The study also illustrates a recurring principle across this research portfolio: a useful result must be understood in its original setting before it is transferred to another project, organization, population, or policy context.

Diagram summarizing Comparing Fuzzy Methods for Contractor Selection — Two paths to a contractor ranking. This original synthesis graphic is based on the study’s documented question, method, or principal contribution; consult the paper for complete figures, labels, units, and uncertainty.
Original website synthesis based on the cited publication.
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READ THE PAPER

Enhancing contractor selection through fuzzy TOPSIS and fuzzy SAW techniques

Published · 2024 · Journal article

Tafazzoli, M., Hazrati, A., Shrestha, K., & Kisi, K. (2024). Enhancing contractor selection through fuzzy TOPSIS and fuzzy SAW techniques. Buildings, 14(6), 1861. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061861

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DOI: 10.3390/buildings14061861

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