PARTNERING

Partnering and its influences on construction projects

Abstract

Research into partnering performance measures for building and construction projects becomes crucial because a growing trend of client organizations has been observed to adopt partnering approach to procure their projects worldwide over the past decade. Although there are some related research studies and papers documented on this research area, few, if any, comprehensive and systematic research studies focus on developing a comprehensive, objective, reliable and practical performance evaluation model for partnering projects in construction. A Partnering Performance Index (PPI), which is composed of seven weighted Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), has been developed to measure, monitor, improve, and benchmark the partnering performance of construction projects in Hong Kong. A set of Quantitative Indicators (QIs) and well-defined ranges of Quantitative Requirements (QRs) for each QI have been further established using the Delphi survey technique and Fuzzy Set Theory. Evaluation of partnering success can now be based on quantitative evidences, thus tackling the subjectivity of performance evaluation. By making use of the Internet and database technology, PPI can be monitored on-line, thus saving much time, cost and efforts on data collection and retrieval than if they are done manually. As such, an Internet-based computerized partnering monitoring and benchmarking tool, namely the Computerized Partnering Performance Index System (CPPIS) has been developed. The Internet-based CPPIS enables project participants to input data at any time and location and the project administrators could perform data analysis via the Internet. The CPPIS also enables project managers to measure, monitor, improve and benchmark their partnering performances against those already stored in the database. Graphical presentations of data and various performance measures are also built in to assist various end-users to identify problematic areas and critical success factors for achieving partnering excellence.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Introduction5

Aim:7

Objectives:7

Hypothesis:7

Purpose of study:8

Research methods14

Research Findings: development of KPIs and a PPI, identification of QIs, and definition of Fuzzy QRs15

Case studies—application of the PPI model43

Case 1—a new private building project45

Case 2—a new public housing project46

Case 3—a new infrastructure project46

Validation of the research findings47

Design of a computerized partnering performance monitoring system50

Choice of programming languages51

Project Details52

Web-based Case Study survey56

Dissemination of analyzed data through graphical presentations57

Useful icons under 'Help' pull down menu59

Data verification and validation60

Significance and limitations of the research study62

Conclusions63

References64

Partnering and its influences on construction projects

Introduction

Research into partnering performance measures for building and construction projects becomes vital because more client organizations have introduced partnering approach to their projects worldwide during the last decade. Although some related research studies and papers have been documented on this research area , and , few, if any, comprehensive and systematic research studies focus on generating a comprehensive, objective, reliable and practical performance evaluation model for partnering projects in construction. Moreover, these research studies were conducted with some limitations. Crane et al. launched extensive interviews with 21 successful partnering relationships and then classified partnering performance measures into three types: result, process and relationship measures. However, a performance index was not compiled and appropriate Quantitative Indicators (QIs) were not identified for assessing partnering performance, thus making project monitoring and ...