Selection approaches and methods of construction industry consultant: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Selecting the most appropriate construction industry consultant (CIC) is a crucial process if projects are going to be successful. However, poor performance of CICs and failure to meet a client's needs are common, and the CIC selection process has not been adequately analysed in previous research. A systematic literature review of the CIC selection process will help to clarify the different approaches and methods. The study concluded with three common approaches for selecting the appropriate CIC: pricebased selection, qualification-based selection, and qualification-price-based selection. The selection approach is conducted either by using a direct or a comparative method. The direct approach is based on reputation or past experience with the client, while the comparative selection method occurs through an evaluation process and a list of selection factors. There are two processes involved in the comparative selection method: interview-based selection process and Multi Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM)-based selection process. However, while there are different opinions about what is the best way to select a consultant, the authors assert that the ideal process depends mainly on client and project conditions. Future study is recommended on this topic. This study contributes to the literature on the CIC selection and open the door to further studies such as developing a new selection approach or method and studying factors and criteria of CIC selection.