Housing association preferred form of partnering

Partnering has been implemented by many Housing Associations as the procurement arrangement to maximize value. There are two dominant forms of partnering being utilized, namely strategic and project partnering. The ethos of strategic partnering is long term collaborative working for a series of projects, as opposed to project partnering, based on short term collaboration. There are conflicting views on the appropriateness of each form of partnering and the value that can be achieved. This creates ambiguities for Housing Associations when attempting to implement a partnering arrangement, who may be confronted by a dichotomy between long term value and short-term savings induced by market prices. The form of partnering currently implemented by Housing Associations must be identified. Distinguishing between each form of partnering and the rationale for selection will assist Housing Associations with their decision-making process to implement the appropriate form. The methodology adopted was a fusion between quantitative and qualitative fieldwork. This integrated the numerical data for the frequency of use and the conducted interviews to achieve an understanding of the reasons for selection. Furthermore guidance has been provided to Housing Associations on the form of partnering being implemented within their sector and the perceived benefits that can be achieved. The findings unveiled that the strategic form of partnering is the preferred arrangement for Housing Associations due to the longer term benefits being achieved through continuity of relationships.