Collaborative Planning Index: A Novel Comprehensive Benchmark for Collaboration in Construction Projects

No previous research effort has simultaneously used all factors affecting collaborative planning towards developing an associated comprehensive evaluation framework. The goal of this paper is to develop a holistic rating system incorporating an inclusive list of factors influencing collaborative planning in construction projects using an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) approach. This paper offers substantial contributions to the body of knowledge through (1) presenting a comprehensive hierarchy system of the categories and factors affecting collaborative planning in the construction industry; (2) providing an unprecedented objective scoring system - named Collaborative Planning Index (CPI) - to assess the effectiveness of construction collaborative planning; (3) offering interrelated stakeholders a tailored experience that allows selection of relevant collaborative planning factors in their respective projects, as well as highlighting underperforming factors; and (4) furnishing appropriate strategies to improve collaborative planning practices. The results of this research provide a foundation for properly interpreting and evaluating the factors impacting collaboration within construction projects in a holistic manner. This should better enable and facilitate reliable planning and management practices that should lead to improved project performance. Ultimately, this study presents a comprehensive benchmark for collaboration in construction projects