IJCSI International Journal of Computer Science Issues, Vol. 7, Issue 2, No 1, March 2010 www.IJCSI.org 40 based, heuristic, object-based, logic-based or induction based [59, 73]. 

## 4. Related Works Of Dss In Tendering Processes

The potential of DSS as computerized tools in assisting decision-making process has been attracting many researchers for the last fifty years to improve decisions in tendering processes. Most phases in tendering processes involve crucial decisions that need to be made either by client, consultant or contractors. Prior researches that implemented decision-making concept in the area of construction tendering process are reviewed. Tender specification preparation, tender submission/tender bidding, tender assessment and contract monitoring are classified into communication-driven, data-driven, document-driven, model-driven and knowledge-driven. 

## 4.1 Tender Specification Preparation

Tender specification preparation is the feasibility study to analyse and consider risk and opportunity when proposing a construction project. During preparing tender documents, several set descriptors of criteria and relative weights are identified for the evaluation purpose. Table 3 summaries several researches that have included DSS technology during preparing tender specification. Costa et al. [5] proposed an approach to structure screening, evaluation and weight using decision conferencing process. Further, Noor et al. [8] applied process modelling to support real time communication between clients and consultants during tender preparation stage. Meanwhile in model-driven approach, several analytical model have been proposed to determine budget estimation and risk analysis model including cost and risk analysis model [13], predictive modelling and Monte Carlo simulation using Crystal Ball software [19] and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) [22]. 

## 4.2 Tender Bidding/Tender Submission

Bidding is the most common method in competition to win the construction tender. It is concerned with two crucial decisions. The first is decision-making strategies in project selection whether or not to bid for the job when the invitation has been received and the latter is prediction of reasonable bid price if contractors opt to bid [74]. Reasonable bid price or mark-up price is defined as the minimum price that possible to win the tender and could maximize profit at the same time [7]. Fuzziness in information on current new construction project, the client preferences, the potential competitors and the overall construction market make it a very complex process for contractor to make decision. Table 4 reviews on several researches that proposed approaches to assist contractor in making decision. In model-driven approach, Delphi method has been used to identify relevant factors that effectively contribute to decision for contractors either to take part in tender bidding or not, and estimate price to bid [2]. Bid reasoning model operates on several crucial factors from perspectives of reasoning goals that contribute to the overall decision whether or not to bid [7]. Meanwhile, fuzzy linguistic approach has been proposed by Lin and Ying-Te [12] to quantify imprecise and vague 

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| to support real time communication between clients and  consultants during tender preparation stage. Meanwhile in  model-driven approach, several analytical model have  been proposed to determine budget estimation and risk   | Tendering Processes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | Communication- Driven   | Data-Driven                                                                                                                                 | Document- Driven   | Model-Driven   | Knowledge- Driven                                                                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Table 3: Prior Researches of DSS in Tender Specification Preparation                                                                                                                                                             | Tender Bidding/Tender Submission                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | NIL                     | NIL                                                                                                                                         | NIL                | Delphi [2]     | Fuzzy  Linguistic  Approach [12]  Case-Based  Reasoning and  Linear Utility  Function [17] |
| Tendering Processes                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Communication- Driven                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Data-Driven             | Document- Driven                                                                                                                            | Model-Driven       | KnowledgeDriven                | Bid Reasoning  Model [7]                                                                   |
| Decision  conferencing [5]  Process  modelling for  online  communication  system [8]                                                                                                                                            | NIL                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | NIL                     | Schedule and  cost risk  analysis  model [13]  Predictive  modelling  and Monte  Carlo  simulation  [19]  Analytic  Hierarchy  Process [22] | NIL                |                |                                                                                            |
| Tender Specification Preparation                                                                                                                                                                                                 | factors to make decision and recommend decision in  linguistic terms. Further, case-based reasoning model was  developed to estimate the risk, opportunity and  competition ratings which in turn converted to estimated  bid amount value using linear utility function [17]. |                         |                                                                                                                                             |                    |                |                                                                                            |
