Dimensions of social barriers to effective collaborative working in construction supply chain

Abstract

Collaborative working (CW) has emerged as a key innovative procurement concept adapted to construction projects in an effort to improving performance, ameliorating the fragmentation and adversarial nature associated with traditional models in project delivery. In spite of the concept gaining increasing acceptance in the global construction industry, several studies have highlighted social barriers that hinder effective CW in construction supply chain. However, growing interest in improving effective CW in construction has not been matched by empirical knowledge that captures the understanding of the social behaviours behind the social barriers. Using an exploratory research design on three case studies, this study revealed personal cognitive domain, behavioural and environmental factors as the dimensions of social barriers to CW in construction supply chain. By understanding these dimensions, stakeholders and practitioners can better evolve approaches tailored at improving the social environment of CW in construction supply chains.