Analytic Hierarchy Process Decision-Making Framework for Procurement Strategy Selection in Building Maintenance Work

Abstract

This paper presents a study of selection of procurement method in building maintenance management for public universities in Malaysia through the use of multiple criteria decision making (MCDM), particularly the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). There are many different types of procurement methods that have been developed to overcome the weaknesses of the existing procurement method and to meet the range of service requirement. The decision makers are faced with challenges when it comes to selecting the most appropriate procurement method for a specific building as different types of procurement methods suit different types of projects. This research seeks to investigate the current practices of the available procurement methods for building maintenance work in public universities and identify the procurement selection criteria to develop an effective decision-making framework. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 20 public universities in Malaysia with 85% response rate to identify and validate two important components for the development of a decision-making framework: the possible assessment criteria and the alternatives available for selection. The finding of this research proves that the selection of procurement methods by university organizations is neither strategic nor systematic as there is no guidance available for the decision maker to rely on in order to select the most appropriate procurement strategy. It is vital to develop a systematic approach that can assist maintenance personnel in making a decision on selecting procurement methods for a particular building.