Identifying and assessing supplier contract design factors using FDEMATEL (A Case Study)

This research examines the factors affecting the design of supplier contracts at Sazeh Peyvand Company (SPC). It aims to identify and determine the relationships between these factors under conditions of uncertainty.

The research is applied in purpose and descriptive-survey in terms of data collection. Initially, the influential factors were identified through the literature review. Subsequently, the causal relationships between these factors were analyzed using the fuzzy DEMATEL.

The results indicate that among the main dimensions, factors related to contract efficiency and unforeseen factors were identified as causal factors, while the relational perspective of the contract was recognized as a result factor. Additionally, within the efficiency perspective of the contract, "formality" and "opportunistic risks" were identified as causal factors, while "contract duration" and "compensable damages" were identified as result factors. In the relational perspective of the contract, "incentives" and "supplier reorganization" were identified as causal factors, and "type of partnership" was recognized as a result factor. Among unforeseen factors, "changes in procedures" and "supplier power" were identified as causal factors, while "supplier technology" and "competitor threats" were identified as result factors.

The study emphasizes that improving contract design should focus on both efficiency and unforeseen factors, and companies, particularly Peyvand Structural Engineers, need to pay special attention to managing these factors.