Abstract:

Strategic procurement in major industries such as mining or oil and gas tend to involve very complex decision-making. Given the values involved in such projects, poor decision-making can have a significant impact on project success and on general industry efficiency. In recent years, studies in procurement/supply chain management have tended to concentrate on quantitative studies with respect to supplier selection criteria and decision support tools. However, the area of decision-making in complex project environments has been sparsely researched and requires a more exploratory approach given both the complexity and its impact on qualitative/human factors. Constructivist Grounded Theory has been identified as a possible tool for studying such complex decision-making. The proposed literature review will consider the different theories of decision-making and whether they are appropriate for complex projects, and in particular, consider their context with the Australian mining industry.