Development of a network-based risk management model for road transportation projects with emphasis on influential stakeholders (a study based on research synthesis and structural analysis)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mohsen Sadeghi Panah
Mohammad Sedigh Sabeti
Heirsh Soltanpanah
Adel Fatemi
Department of Civil Engineering, Sa.C., Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran
10.22075/ijnaa.2026.40777.5662
Abstract
Road transportation projects are exposed to diverse technical, stakeholder, financial, quality, and environmental risks, and inefficient risk identification and management can lead to schedule delays, cost overruns, and reduced project effectiveness. This study aimed to develop a network-based risk management model for road construction projects, with emphasis on influential stakeholders, and to explain the structural relationships among its dimensions. The study was applied in objective and adopted a mixed-methods qualitative–quantitative design. The qualitative phase used content analysis and the Delphi technique, while the quantitative phase used exploratory factor analysis and interpretive structural modelling. The statistical population comprised 25 road construction experts selected through purposive sampling, and data were collected via semi-structured interviews and Delphi questionnaires. The final model consisted of six principal factors—risk identification, risk assessment, planning, organizing, accountability, and control—and 41 subcomponents, explaining 33.90\% of the total variance. Factor analysis indicated sampling adequacy (KMO = 0.873) and satisfactory construct validity, and the model showed high explanatory power $R^2=0.76$. Interpretive structural modelling identified “control” as the fundamental factor heavily affecting the others. Stakeholder interaction networks at all levels were common to risk management across stakeholders. Overall, network-based and multilevel approaches may help reduce uncertainty and improve strategic decision-making in road transportation projects.
Keywords
Risk Management
Road Construction Projects
Key Stakeholders
Interpretive Structural Modeling
Delphi Technique
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International Journal of Nonlinear Analysis and Applications

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 04 November 2026

  • Receive Date 01 January 2026
  • Revise Date 14 March 2026
  • Accept Date 16 March 2026