- Student Affairs - Engineering Education - Engineering Management - Multicriteria Decision Analysis
Purpose The construction industry today is one of the biggest industries in the world. As projects continue to grow in complexity, project management continues to evolve. Contractor selection is a difficult task that owners and project managers face. Although previously researchers have worked on the subject of contractor selection, a comprehensive decision support system for contractor selection has not yet been developed. Recent reports of major delays and cost overruns in mega projects highlight the need for a model that is able to be flexible and comprehensive becomes evident. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The research focuses on obtaining insights from field experts using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Then, a model was developed in the light of the data collected. Accordingly, the model was tested on a case study. Findings This paper presents a model for contractor selection that is wholesome in its take on the topic. The model incorporates both managerial and technical aspects of the problem. The model was tested on a case study and it was proven to be feasible in real world applications. The contractor selection decision support system serves the needs of both academics and industry managers, as an integral part of project management. Originality/value The model presented in this paper is innovative in its take on the problems. MCDA tools have been uniquely modified in this paper to cater to the needs of the selection problem while accounting for the criteria hierarchy that incorporates aspects that are instrumental for proper evaluation of a contractor’s likelihood of success.
On 3 March 2020, the Lebanese government declared a state of health emergency and general mobilization, imposing a total lockdown to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic with the discovery of the first few cases in Lebanon. This was unchartered territory for everyone in the current modern era. Faced with the sudden disruption, Lebanese higher-education institutions, like their counterparts around the world, faced the challenge of relying on full online teaching overnight-urgently and without preparation in Lebanon, for sure, and many other nations worldwide.
Presents a tribute to Claude Shannon. The IEEE Information Theory Society launched a global initiative to commemorate Claude Shannon’s centenary in 2016. This was part of an IEEE effort to pay due tribute to accomplished names whose venerable contributions have shaped our profession. Practically speaking, the world we live in today owes a lot to Shannon. Shannon greatly influenced technology and digital communications in such a way that has rightfully earned him the nickname, the “father of the Information Age.” This man gave the world machine learning and information theory. His work paved the way for the creation of the knowledge-intensive societies we live in today. He put together the fundamental theoretical basis for how we communicate, store, secure, analyze, and measure information in the digital world.
The Middle East and North Africa region is known to suffer from a sizeable gap between the skills available in local markets and those needed for economic advancement. In a country and region suffering from economic and political hardship, investment in human capital is, unfortunately, not a high priority. The skills gap is not just about technical skills but also entails soft skills. One of the key points to keep in mind, for university students in general, is that education does not happen exclusively in the classroom. Your student experience sets you apart from your colleagues, even those at the same institution. Engagement in extracurricular activities is an essential part of that experience. Being a student allows you to pursue your interests and passions, and there is no better time to do it. For engineering students, you have the privilege of professional engineering societies. This is where the role of professional organizations, such as the IEEE, comes in. Whether you are an enthusiast, a student, a young professional, or a senior citizen, belonging to the IEEE, or another professional engineering organization in your fi eld, has countless advantages.
