Short answer

Implement a systematic, multi-criteria decision-making process to identify and prioritize the most impactful drivers for any complex project, especially those with sustainability objectives.

Field: Commercial Production
Source: PLoS ONE (2020)
Method: Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) with Entropy weighting and TOPSIS
Evidence: Strong effect

A structured, multi-criteria decision-making approach can effectively identify and rank the most critical drivers for successful and sustainable lean construction implementation. This commercial production research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in PLoS ONE. Using Multi-criteria decision making (mcdm) with entropy weighting and topsis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Implement a systematic, multi-criteria decision-making process to identify and prioritize the most impactful drivers for any complex project, especially those with sustainability objectives.

Study

Commercial ProductionHigh ImpactStrong effect

Prioritizing Lean Construction Drivers Boosts Project Success and Sustainability

A structured, multi-criteria decision-making approach can effectively identify and rank the most critical drivers for successful and sustainable lean construction implementation.

PLoS ONE · 2020

Key Findings

01A comprehensive list of 63 important drivers for lean construction was identified, verified, and ranked.
0222 key drivers were identified as most critical for successful and sustainable lean construction.
03A multi-criteria decision-making model for these key drivers was proposed.

Application

Design takeaway

Implement a systematic, multi-criteria decision-making process to identify and prioritize the most impactful drivers for any complex project, especially those with sustainability objectives.

How to apply

When initiating a new design project or a significant process improvement, conduct a thorough driver analysis using a structured decision-making framework to ensure focus on the most impactful elements.

Project actions

01When defining the scope of your design project, consider identifying and prioritizing key success factors early on.
02Use structured decision-making tools to evaluate different design options or strategies based on multiple criteria.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can a hybrid entropy-TOPSIS methodology be used to identify and rank the key drivers for successful and sustainable lean construction implementation?

MethodMulti-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) with Entropy weighting and TOPSIS

ProcedureThe study first compiled a comprehensive list of potential drivers for lean construction across social, economic, and environmental sustainability aspects. An entropy weighting method was then used to objectively determine the weight of each driver based on its variability. Finally, the TOPSIS technique was applied to rank these drivers, identifying the most critical ones for successful implementation.

ContextConstruction industry, specifically within the Malaysian context.

Variables

IV["Drivers for lean construction implementation (social, economic, environmental)"]

DV["Rank of drivers","Identification of key drivers"]

CV["Methodology (Entropy-TOPSIS)","Context (Malaysian construction industry)"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Proposes a novel methodology for driver selection.
+Empirically validates the method within a specific industry context.
+Includes sensitivity analysis for robustness.

Limitations

The complexity of the entropy-TOPSIS method might be challenging to fully replicate without specialized software. The initial list of drivers might be incomplete, affecting the comprehensiveness of the ranking.

Reliability & validity

The study's validity is supported by empirical testing, sensitivity analysis, and comparison with existing methods. Reliability is enhanced by the systematic and objective nature of the entropy-TOPSIS approach.

Think critically

How might the 'key drivers' identified in this study differ in importance for a small-scale residential construction project versus a large-scale infrastructure project?

Design Principles

"Prioritize critical success factors using objective weighting and ranking methodologies to optimize resource allocation and project outcomes."

In complex projects like construction, resource allocation and strategic focus are paramount. By systematically identifying and prioritizing key drivers, design and project management teams can concentrate efforts on factors that yield the greatest impact on efficiency, economic viability, and environmental and social sustainability.

What This Means for Your Design

This study shows that by using a smart system to rank all the things that make 'lean construction' work well, you can figure out which ones are the most important to focus on for a project to be successful and good for the environment and people.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of identifying and prioritizing critical success factors in your design project's planning or evaluation phase.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the critical need for a systematic approach to identifying and prioritizing key drivers in complex implementation processes. By employing methodologies like entropy-weighted TOPSIS, practitioners can move beyond ad-hoc decision-making to a more objective and data-driven prioritization of factors that significantly influence project success and sustainability.

Source

PLoS ONE

A hybrid approach using entropy and TOPSIS to select key drivers for a successful and sustainable lean construction implementation

journal · 2020

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about prioritizing lean construction drivers boosts project success and sustainability?: Implement a systematic, multi-criteria decision-making process to identify and prioritize the most impactful drivers for any complex project, especially those with sustainability objectives. Evidence: PLoS ONE (2020).
Why does "Prioritizing Lean Construction Drivers Boosts Project Success and Sustainability" matter for design?: In complex projects like construction, resource allocation and strategic focus are paramount. By systematically identifying and prioritizing key drivers, design and project management teams can concentrate efforts on factors that yield the greatest impact on efficiency, economic viability, and environmental and social sustainability.
How can designers apply this research?: Implement a systematic, multi-criteria decision-making process to identify and prioritize the most impactful drivers for any complex project, especially those with sustainability objectives.
What were the main findings?: A comprehensive list of 63 important drivers for lean construction was identified, verified, and ranked.. 22 key drivers were identified as most critical for successful and sustainable lean construction.. A multi-criteria decision-making model for these key drivers was proposed.
What research method was used?: Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) with Entropy weighting and TOPSIS.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2020 journal from PLoS ONE.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When initiating a new design project or a significant process improvement, conduct a thorough driver analysis using a structured decision-making framework to ensure focus on the most impactful elements.
What are the limitations?: The study's findings are specific to the Malaysian construction industry and may require adaptation for different geographical or industry contexts. The subjective nature of driver identification, despite objective weighting, can still introduce bias.