Organization Synchronization in Response to Complex Project Delays: Network-Based Analysis

Abstract

In response to frequent complex project delays, organization synchronization, a set of interactions, is a dynamic behavior that helps to restore the stability of complex projects after delays. However, few studies have figured out how organizations synchronize effectively in order to deal with delay issues. To solve this problem, this study first provides a preliminary list of CDFs and indices of organization interactions are also given. A total of 15 key CDFs and 10 interaction ways were refined according to a questionnaire survey. In addition, the complex network synchronization (CNS) theory was adopted to analyze the synchronizability and importance of nodes by comprehensively using multiple parameters. A complex metro project with 51 project organizations was used as a case study and we found that specific signal organizations synchronized through three effective interaction ways (meetings, discussion and study, and the Internet) to cope with six CDFs (safety accidents, prominent problems of land expropriation, unreasonable timelines by clients, improper construction designs, delayed payments, and high financial risks). This study contributes to defining organization synchronization, providing a feasible research framework for assessing network synchronizability and identifying signal organizations in complex projects, and guiding practitioners to effectively cope with delays by interactions between signal organizations.

Research Paradigm of Network Approaches in Construction Safety and Occupational Health

“…Accident diagnosis and management [23] Fall from height; construction workers [24] Construction safety; predictive analysis; tunnel construction [28] CN Complex network Human error; safety assessment [32] explanation, prediction Near-miss; metro construction; safety management [42] Construction safety; subway construction [25] description, explanation Unsafe behaviors; accident prevention; urban railway construction [46] Safety management; design for safety (DFS); prevention through design (PTD); subway construction [69] Accident analysis; railway operational accident [70] Accident analysis; metro operation hazard network (MOHN) [71] Deep foundation pit; subway construction [17] Construction workers; unsafe behavior [72] Unsafe behavior; accident prevention; urban railway [73] Accident level; accident chain; construction [44] description, explanation, control Human factor analysis (HFA); occupational safety [48] Organizational synchronization; construction delay factors [74] CNN Convolutional neural network Fall prevention; personnel protective equipment [75] explanation, prediction, control Construction safety; guardrail detection [29] FNN Fuzzy neural network Worker-machine safety; intelligent assessment [76] explanation, prediction, control NN Neural network;…”