Understanding construction alliances : their rationale and design

Ingirige, Bingunath; Sexton, MG

Abstract

Alliances are collaborative vehicles which have been set up to respond to intense and rapid changes associated with globalisation. This alliance trend is evident in the construction industry.

Although numerous studies have been conducted on alliances, which have addressed such issues as alliance classification and design, inadequate emphasis has been made to explicitly organise this research in such a fashion as to obtain meaningful comparisons between the construction industry and other industries.

A detailed study into the integration of alliance concepts across sectors, including construction, has the potential to provide a base from which to progress developments.

In this research, the overarching rationale for alliance development is theorised through a literature synthesis.

Two empirical case studies are conducted to explore the basis of alliance collaboration. Results reveal that two distinctive paths exist in alliance development based on the original intent and the duration of collaboration.

Strategic partnering alliances, while having long term goals, also need to prove their short term success whereas project based partnering schemes are orientated towards achieving short term results targeting a single project.

Results of this study will make potential contributions to the general body of literature and the expansion of surveyors’ role into giving project related advice on partnering and supply chain management.

Citation

Ingirige, B., & Sexton, M. (2007). Understanding construction alliances : their rationale and design

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2007
• Deposit Date: Sep 14, 2007
• Journal: RICS Research Paper Series
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 4