Multi-Objective Trade-Offs for Construction Projects with Dual Constraints of Schedule Risk and Resources Under a Risk-Driven Perspective

Jun Zhou, Yanjuan Tang () and Yong Tian
Additional contact information
Jun Zhou: College of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Yanjuan Tang: College of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Yong Tian: College of Water Conservancy & Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-34

Abstract: Project schedules are typically the primary concern for most clients, yet the corresponding schedule risks have not received sufficient attention from project managers during multi-objective trade-offs. Therefore, to select the most valuable schedule plan in a complex risk environment, reveal the objective impact of schedule risks on multi-objective trade-offs, and reflect the decision-maker’s risk mitigation behaviour, this study aims to develop a Time–Cost–Quality Trade-off (TCQT) model constrained by both schedule risks and resources based on risk-driven principles. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis steps for identifying key risk factors are proposed. The Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods are introduced to solve the TCQT model and make optimal solution decisions. Case study results demonstrate that the optimal scheduling plan derived from the model improves the total project time, cost, and quality by 11.48%, 4.52%, and 7.05%, respectively, compared to the initial plan formulated by the project team. Additionally, the model identifies the main risk factors affecting the achievement of each objective within the TCQT decision framework, providing crucial insights for decision-makers in formulating effective mitigation strategies.

Keywords: risk-driven theory; schedule risk quantification; time–cost–quality trade-offs; risk chain; schedule risk management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/1926/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/1926/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:1926-:d:1598680

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().