Relational Selection for Collaborative Working Arrangements
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 131, Issue 10
Abstract
Procurement arrangements for collaborative working arrangements (CWAs) should arguably provide suitable protocols under which different project partners can interact effectively and maintain harmonious relationships and mobilize their collective efforts towards common project objectives. Technical abilities of different project partners for carrying out the works are important. Also critical are their “soft” or “relational” qualities to work jointly and synergistically in the project team. The aims of the reported study are to examine the importance of a single set of different factors for selecting consultants, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and clients for CWAs; and to assess the relative importance of various factors and strategies for building CWAs. Data were collected internationally from 17 countries through a questionnaire survey and statistical analyses were conducted. Results attribute varying degrees of importance to various factors for selecting different project partners and suggest an interrelated and consolidated selection approach in general, except for “selecting” clients. The study confirms that trust and business ethics related factors and strategies are more helpful for CWAs than some others. Outcomes of this study are expected to benefit both industry practitioners and researchers, in exploring, designing, and implementing suitable CWAs and selecting appropriate project partners.
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Acknowledgment
Grant No. HKU/7011/02E from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council is gratefully acknowledged.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 131 • Issue 10 • October 2005
Pages: 1087 - 1098
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 6, 2005
Accepted: Mar 22, 2005
Published online: Oct 1, 2005
Published in print: Oct 2005
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