A Fuzzy AHP Model to Examine the Causes of Disputes in the Construction Industry

Disputes pose serious risks for the project participants, and if not appropriately managed, disputes cause significant delays, financial losses, and damage to relationships between the parties. This study aims to systematically identify, analyze, and prioritize the primary causes of disputes by adopting a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) approach. Expert interviews were conducted to provide in-depth exploration of dispute factors compiled from the literature. The fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (fuzzy AHP) was employed to identify and prioritize the causes of construction disputes. Seven primary factors and their associated subfactors were analyzed and contract-related factors were found as the most significant causes of disputes, with ambiguities in contract documents and incomplete documentation. The study makes a significant contribution to the body of knowledge on construction disputes by developing a systematic and structured framework for understanding and prioritizing the causes of disputes. Beyond its methodological contribution, this research has practical implications for industry professionals, offering a prioritized set of dispute factors that can serve as a decision-making tool for dispute prevention.