Title: Eliciting and exploring large-scale group preferences to gain insight into group representation and convergence

Authors: Kristin Weger; Sheri Leder; Bryan Mesmer

Addresses: Psychology Department, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, 301 Sparkman Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA ' Psychology Department, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, 301 Sparkman Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA ' Industrial and Systems and Engineering Management Department, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, 301 Sparkman Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA

Abstract: In real-world heterogeneous large-scale group decision-making (LSGDM) problems, reaching a consensus that is supported by all or almost all decision makers (DMs) is crucial. Preferences are important to inform decision-making and aid in projecting decision outcomes when stakeholders are prioritising project activities. This study employed a survey research method to elicit and explore preferences in LSGDM. The researchers used thematic analysis to name and categorise patterns of preference themes across open-ended survey data. Preferences on the individual level were then aggregated with the majority-based strategy to statistically evaluate the specific priorities of the stakeholder groups. With the use of mixed methods, preferences amongst stakeholder groups could be explored. Consensus towards the most visible project concepts and activities as well as diverging preferences on factors such as technical risks and project cost were found. We discuss the importance of preference elicitation and exploration in large-scale projects to inform LSGDM.

Keywords: large-scale projects; large-scale group decision-making; LSGDM; preferences; consensus; exploration; elicitation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2023.134966

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2023 Vol.15 No.4, pp.478 - 504

Received: 22 Oct 2021
Received in revised form: 20 Jun 2022
Accepted: 20 Jul 2022
Published online: 22 Nov 2023 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article