How factors of collaboration affect delivery of construction projects with a high degree of reliance on building services; an action research and cross-case study analysis of Edinburgh primary schools

Carrick, D

Abstract

The construction industry has often been criticised for lack of collaboration and the effect this has on delivering value to Clients.
This research was undertaken from the viewpoint of a practicing Quantity Surveyor (Professional Doctorate) to investigate how factors of collaborative procurement of building services (for clarity, the Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing work servicing the building) affect the delivery of “Client defined value”. Focusing on the building services aspect was due to the high proportion of build value (£) this represents and the significance that collaboration has on this area.
It was recognised that whilst authors and commentators noted the benefits of undertaking projects collaboratively with the supply chain, there appeared to be a gap in empirical evidence of practical outcomes from this approach. Whilst practitioners espoused that collaboration with the supply chain should provide Client value benefits, this was largely not evidenced by the Academy. It is this “gap” this research sought to explore through investigation.
This exploratory / descriptive enquiry in to, what is considered a social phenomenon, combines constructivism and subjectivism, is interpretivist, and deploys a mixed-method approach; favouring a qualitative model in its narrative aspect. Due to the Professional Doctorate route, methods evolved over the research period; they include the use of Literature Review, Focus-groups, a degree of Action Research, Social Network Analysis and Cross-case Study Analysis.
Key Findings support the existing literature in that the act of collaboration within construction project teams should have positive outcomes when enacted correctly and effectively. The research suggests however that the nature of individual actors within construction project teams, their personalities, their ability to trust and be trustworthy, and the way they interact with the project’s social network, has a significant impact on the effectiveness of Collaborative procurement approaches. This is potentially more acute in the area of Building Services especially when considering that “Client Value” parameters do not always consider this aspect discretely. The importance on Client leadership and them dictating their precise value requirements at an early stage is also commented on.

Key words :
Trust, Collaboration, Procurement, Knowledge Transfer, Client leadership

Citation

Carrick, D. How factors of collaboration affect delivery of construction projects with a high degree of reliance on building services; an action research and cross-case study analysis of Edinburgh primary schools. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Apr 12, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 12, 2023
• Award Date: Jun 1, 2022