Benefit of partnering in the Hong Kong construction industry

Abstract

This Research Project describes an investigation into the application of partnering in the Hong Kong construction industry in order to examine if partnering should bring benefit to employers, engineers and contractors. Literature review was undertaken to review the contract formation and management process, the fundamentals of project partnering, the contract management process using traditional and partnering approaches and the benefits, costs and issues associated with delivering civil engineering projects using partnering as compared with traditional forms of contract. After completion of the literature review a research methodology in terms of questionnaire was developed, to collect data and information from practitioners, to research the benefits, drawbacks and problems of partnering, as well as the situation suitable for partnering. Case studies were also carried out to describe the real case happened in the Hong Kong construction industry. It comprises three partnering projects and three non-partnering projects, to compare and contrast the process and outcome of two categories of project delivery. It reveals that partnering improves performance, reduces disputes and improves relationship. Based on the findings of data analysis a process was developed for improved project delivery system. This is a straightforward approach and was then tested with principals, superintendents and contractors in the Hong Kong construction industry. Finally, evaluate the use of process developed in the award and management of a particular construction contract. All these supports that successful implementation of partnering could be able to improve the current problems in the contract delivery process.