Kwawu, W E K (2009) Relational contracting in the UK construction sector. PhD thesis, University of Reading, UK.
Abstract
A major feature of the procurement of construction works in the UK is the contractual and business relationship between clients, consultants, main contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and other stakeholders. Since the 1980s, various forms of Collaborative Working Practices (CWPs) have been advocated as substitutes to traditional arm's length contractual relationship when procuring construction works. CWPs are underpinned by Relational Contracts (RCs). RC are informal self-enforcing agreements and are based on the proposition that economic exchanges contain significant social norms such as trust, co-operation and commitment. The findings indicate that it is not the use of either traditional or RC that influences how participants will behave.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | client; consultant; contracts; contractual relations; co-operation; procurement; stakeholders; subcontractor; supplier; trust; UK |
| Index terms: | social norms, commitment, contractual relationship, subcontractor, construction sector, contractual relations, business relationship, relational contracting, main contractor, working practice, construction work, agreements |
| Subjects: | contractual relationship, strategic management, practitioner, operations management, contract formation, psychology, contractual arrangements, contract law, management, social justice, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Procurement, Project Management, Ethics, Legal Issues, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Contract Administration |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here