Application of Delphi method in construction engineering and management research: A quantitative perspective

Abstract

The Delphi method has been used as a main research method by a growing number of researchers in the Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) field in the past two decades. Although a number of studies are available on the use of Delphi, few researchers fully examine the potential of the Delphi method in the combined use of statistical techniques, which is an inevitable trend for future Delphi research. This paper aims to review the combined use of Delphi and other quantitative methods in the CEM field based on a structured literature review of 88 relevant papers. All of the 88 papers are systematically identified from ten well-known peer-reviewed CEM journals published in the period of 1990–2012. Topic coverage, application requirements, and statistical techniques in the 88 Delphi papers are reviewed. The mix use of the Delphi method with three advanced modelling methods, such as Fuzzy sets, Analytical Hierarchy Process, and Analytical Network Process is also examined. These review results provide practical references for researchers having interests in applying Delphi method in CEM research.

Keywords:

• Delphi method
• construction engineering and management research
• quantitative perspective
• review

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Effah Ernest Ameyaw

Effah Ernest AMEYAW. He is a Research Associate of Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His current research interest is risk management of public-private partnership projects in Ghana.

Yi Hu

Yi HU. He is an Assistant Professor of Department of Construction Management and Real Estate, School of Economics and Management, Tongji University. His current research interest centers on megaproject organization and management in China and other locations.

Ming Shan

Ming SHAN. He is a Joint PhD Candidate of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Tongji University, who already received a PhD degree in Building and Real Estate from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His current research interest is professional ethics in the construction industry.

Albert P. C. Chan

Albert P. C. CHAN. He is Chair Professor and Head of Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research interests are megaproject management, public-private partnership project management, construction safety, construction professional ethics, and innovation in construction.

Yun Le

Yun LE. He is Professor and Head of Department of Construction Management and Real Estate, and Associate Director of Research Institute of Complex Engineering & Management, School of Management and Economics, Tongji University. His research interests focus on ethical behaviors in the public construction sector and megaproject management in China and worldwide.