Abstract
PurposeThis paper aims to disseminate the knowledge integration process modelling throughout the phases of the early contractor involvement (ECI) procurement methodology, to optimise the benefit of ECI procurement method. The development of the model was aimed at taking advantage from the associated benefits of integrating knowledge and of ECI procurement. ECI provides contractors with an alternative means to tendering, designing and constructing projects. Thus, this paper explores knowledge interconnectivity and its integration involving numerous disciplines with various stakeholders to benefit from the collaborative environment of ECI.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology implemented in the research includes a thorough literature review to establish the characteristics of the ECI tender stage as well as the characteristics of knowledge to be integrated in an ECI setting. Following this, an embedded case study research methodology was used involving three healthcare ECI projects undertaken by a Western Australian commercial contractor through 20 semi-structured interviews and project archival study, followed by the development of knowledge integration process models throughout the ECI process of the studied cases.FindingsThe research findings provide the basis to develop a knowledge integration process model throughout the ECI stages. The tender stage was found to be the most crucial stage for knowledge integration, particularly from the main contractor’s perspective to impart change and to influence the project outcome. The outcome of this research identifies the richness and interconnectivity of knowledge throughout the knowledge integration process in an ECI project starting from the intra-organisational knowledge integration process followed by the inter-organisational process of knowledge integration. This inside-out perspective of knowledge integration also revealed the need for mapping the implementation of knowledge integration from instrumental to incremental approach throughout the ECI stages in optimising the intended benefits of integrating knowledge.Originality/valueThis paper reports the development of a knowledge integration process model with the view to optimise the management effectiveness of integrating knowledge in ECI projects. Although knowledge integration and ECI can be considered existing and widely accepted concepts, the novelty of this research lies in the specific use of the knowledge integration process to analyse the knowledge flow, transformation and, hence, management in ECI projects. As it has been acknowledged that knowledge integration is beneficial but also a complex process, the methodology implemented here in modelling the process can be used as the basis to model knowledge integration in other ECI projects to further capitalise from ECI as a collaborative procurement method.
Highlights
Construction projects are undertaken utilising the expertise of numerous different stakeholders, all striving to achieve project delivery on time, within cost and to the satisfaction of the client (CEIID 2010; Sutrisna and Barrett 2007)
The outcome of this research identifies the richness and interconnectivity of knowledge throughout the knowledge integration process in an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) project starting from the intra-organisational knowledge integration process followed by the inter-organisational process of knowledge integration
This paper reports the development of knowledge integration process model with the view to optimise the management effectiveness of integrating knowledge in ECI projects
Summary
Construction projects are undertaken utilising the expertise of numerous different stakeholders, all striving to achieve project delivery on time, within cost and to the satisfaction of the client (CEIID 2010; Sutrisna and Barrett 2007). Construction projects with higher technical and delivery complexity typically increase risks to the client, whereby the use of traditional procurement methods such as competitive lump sum tenders, may reduce the certainty in achieving the desired outcomes (Eddie and O'Brien 2007; Sutrisna 2004). In an effort to minimise the uncertainty, a range of relationship-based project delivery methods have been developed to systematically allocate and share risks through a collaborative tendering environment Scheepbouwer and Humphries 2011; Bakker et al 2008; Bresnen and Marshall 2000) These methods provide opportunities for all project stakeholders, including clients, consultants and contractors, to develop a project design and construction methodology in a co-operative manner, where delivery and budget risks can be minimised while overall project quality maintained (Mignot 2011). In Western Australia (WA), one of these relationship-based project delivery methodologies that have been recently introduced is the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI)
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