Defining project partnering

Abstract

Purpose Due to observed problems in real-life projects stemming from the lack of a unified definition, the purpose of this paper is to formulate a new definition of project partnering (PP) through documenting the specific characteristics researchers attribute to this approach. Design/methodology/approach PP definition phrases extracted from a literature review were sorted into a basic framework of who, what, how, when and where. In a web-based survey, a group of experts marked the phrases from the literature review as being specific, generic, or irrelevant to PP. The expert group comprised highly ranked and experienced PP researchers. Based on the survey results, a new definition was formulated. The new definition specifies the participants, the objectives and the knowledge, skills, tools and techniques applied to pursue the objectives in PP. A verification survey of the expert group gave a 78-96 per cent combined approve and support score for each element of the new definition. Findings PP and a partnering project are defined by a framework encompassing three basic dimensions: participants, objectives, knowledge, skills, tools and techniques applied to pursue the objectives. The new definition is: “project partnering is a relationship strategy whereby a project owner integrates contractors and other major contributors into the project”. Through commitment to mutual project objectives, collaborative problem solving and a joint governance structure, partners pursue collaborative relationships, trust and improved performance. The new definition indicates that PP neither varies with early contractor involvement nor gain and pain share, but varies with the degree of mutual project objectives, collaborative problem solving and joint governance structure. Originality/value PP is a complex concept with no widely accepted definition. The basic framework applied to the formulation of the definition in this project can also be applied to define and implement a partnering project and to define and distinguish between other relationship-based procurement forms.

Collaborative Project Delivery Methods: A Scoping Review

“…Other studies in this category describe specific elements that a partnering model may consist of, such as Eriksson (2010) who separates partnering into mandatory core procedures and collaborative tools. Another view on partnering is to see it as a framework encompassing: participants, objectives, knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques applied to pursue the objectives (Børve et al, 2017). Gottlieb and Jensen (2012) link the partnering concept to institutional theory and governance, seeing partnering as a project governance mechanism, and a collective sense-making process.…”

Projectification and Partnering: An Amalgamated Approach for New Venture Creation in an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

“…As one of the institutional forms of a collaborative relationship (Aarseth et al 2012;Børve et al 2017;Hosseini et al 2018), partnering is widely seen as improving collaborative entrepreneurial project performance. The EE provides a melting pot of talent, investors, partners, and customers (Grabher, 2002), which influence the activities of start-ups.…”

Shared Mental Models and Inter-organizational AEC Project Teams

“…The most common examples are Project Partnering, Lean Construction, and the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM). Project Partnering is a non-binding commitment between the parties of the project to set mutual goals and pursue them through joint governance and collaborative problem solving (Børve et al, 2017). Project Partnering ensures early goal alignment of key project parties and shared responsibility of outcomes through joint governance (Lahdenperä, 2012).…”