Abstract:The construction sector has been widely criticized for its low productivity, fragmented structure, and adversarial relationships. To address these problems, some industry actors are adopting innovations such as lean construction, digital technologies, and collaborative contracts. However, these transformative innovations are underpinned by interorganizational collaboration within complex supply chain networks. Understanding collaboration in theory and practice is a difficult task. Therefore, this study aims to… Show more
“…understanding co-workers' situations, and c) mediated coupling and boundary objects. Garcia and Murguia (2021), stressed the need to understand collaboration not only in theory but also in practice. In their study, they aimed to investigate which factors influenced collaboration and they set out to develop a model for inter-organizational collaboration.…”
In this paper we will expand further on the literature focusing on collaborations within the construction industry. In the articles that are concerned with collaborative efforts, the authors present definitions. Often a common denominator is that collaboration is carried out by two or more parties to reach a goal. Little operationalization is offered in terms of understanding collaboration contextually. What are we actually talking about when we are concerned with collaboration, and in particular how to develop collaboration between actors in the construction industry?This paper aims to discuss the term collaboration from the collective viewpoints of actors at a construction site, who consist of skilled workers and apprentices, supervisors, foremen and site management. The basis for this discussion is a previous review of collaboration in the literature, as well as previous research undertaken by the (first) author, which operationalizes collaboration in terms of six underlying dimensions.The argument posed in this paper is that if correct measures were to be identified and taken to improve and develop constructive collaborative relationships between interorganizational actors on the construction site, we would need to address the term collaboration in greater depth. Rather than operating with an overarching and insufficient definition of "collaboration", we need to operationalize and sufficiently understand how actors themselves understand collaboration within a specific context.
“…understanding co-workers' situations, and c) mediated coupling and boundary objects. Garcia and Murguia (2021), stressed the need to understand collaboration not only in theory but also in practice. In their study, they aimed to investigate which factors influenced collaboration and they set out to develop a model for inter-organizational collaboration.…”
In this paper we will expand further on the literature focusing on collaborations within the construction industry. In the articles that are concerned with collaborative efforts, the authors present definitions. Often a common denominator is that collaboration is carried out by two or more parties to reach a goal. Little operationalization is offered in terms of understanding collaboration contextually. What are we actually talking about when we are concerned with collaboration, and in particular how to develop collaboration between actors in the construction industry?This paper aims to discuss the term collaboration from the collective viewpoints of actors at a construction site, who consist of skilled workers and apprentices, supervisors, foremen and site management. The basis for this discussion is a previous review of collaboration in the literature, as well as previous research undertaken by the (first) author, which operationalizes collaboration in terms of six underlying dimensions.The argument posed in this paper is that if correct measures were to be identified and taken to improve and develop constructive collaborative relationships between interorganizational actors on the construction site, we would need to address the term collaboration in greater depth. Rather than operating with an overarching and insufficient definition of "collaboration", we need to operationalize and sufficiently understand how actors themselves understand collaboration within a specific context.
“…The use of a big room and co-location are examples of how projects can create an environment for multi-disciplinary and collective decision-making. Garcia and Murguia (2021) classify collaboration into four dimensions: trust, project uncertainty management, client's operational capability, and business relationships. They argue that client attributes and supply chain capabilities are the most influential and uncertain factors in deciding the collaboration level in an inter-organizational relationship.…”
The Norwegian football club Rosenborg BK (RBK) was a well-recognized force in European club football during its heyday in the 1990s. Led by the legendary coach Nils Arne Eggen, they regularly shocked Europe's top teams with great results after implementing a successful philosophy based on collaboration. The importance of collaboration is well-emphasized in Lean Construction (LC) theory, but more discussion about creating a willingness and culture for collaboration seems to be lacking. Therefore, this conceptual paper suggests broadening the existing theory by presenting Nils Arne Eggen's "Best Foot theory" principles through a new theoretical lens. The collaborative "Best Foot theory" is seen in an LC context and discussed with the "Five Big Ideas" presented by Lean Project Consulting, Inc. as the starting point. The "Best Foot theory" expands current theory by giving successful practical examples to create a culture for the practitioners in a performance group to want to collaborate.
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