Partnering

Question 1

What is partnering?

Answer 1

• A collaborative management approach to procurement that encourages openness and trust between the contracting parties.
• Provides opportunity for building working relationships, finding efficiencies and planning investment.
• Risk ownership is spread between the parties and a collaborative approach is encouraged to overcoming problems.

Question 2

What are the key advantages of partnering?

Answer 2

• Overall construction and design programme can be shortened.
• Likelihood of conflict is reduced.
• Improved communication and mutual objectives.
• Improved customer satisfaction.
• Improved buildability (early contractor involvement)
• Better predictability of time and cost.

Question 3

What are the key disadvantages of partnering?

Answer 3

• Less opportunity to understand what other suppliers have to offer.
• Difficult to find a strong partner with the same objects, ethics, attitude etc.