Collaborative Relationships in Construction (PDF)

The latest research is presented here on both contractual and
conceptual collaborative practices in construction. The editors
identify common problems faced by the industry and draw out
practical implications.

Construction projects are increasingly run in ways that
challenge the traditional boundary of the firm - and
sometimes also the definition of the project coalition and
programme management. And all this in the context of construction
firms whose clients demand ever increasing performance improvements
and who also want to improve their strategies for greater
collaboration to give themselves competitive advantage.

In Collaborative Relationships in Construction the
editors identify three main themes: collaborative relationships,
operating both in frameworks and within networks of contacts, e.g.
relational contracting in partnering, supply chain management and
other procurement-driven initiatives.

The second theme is frameworks, both contractual frameworks
binding parties together over a series of contracts, and conceptual
frameworks used to develop future performance improvement arising
from the proactive strategies of firms.

The third theme is the network of relationships that supports
individuals and firms within the project coalition in delivering
services and adding value to improve performance. These networks
define the investment and incentives supporting the inter-firm and
intra-firm relationships, as well as the formal contractual
conditions through which such incentives flow. Networks of
information exchange define the structure of the activity and help
predict organisational configurations for successful project
outcomes.

The book probes the corporate entities of both client and
contractor organisations, analysing new ways of working to
encourage the move towards more collaborative practices in the
construction industry.