Che Ibrahim, C K I and Aaltonen, K (2025) The evolution of project alliancing in construction: Insights from a two-decade bibliometric review. Construction Management and Economics, 43(12), pp. 1022-1044. ISSN 0144-6193
Abstract
Project alliancing has emerged as a transformative procurement strategy, fostering collaboration, risk-sharing, and innovation in construction. As the industry moves toward more integrated delivery models, understanding the evolving research landscape becomes essential. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of 134 Scopus-indexed publications (1996–2025) to uncover key research trends, influential contributors, and thematic developments in project alliancing. Findings reveal six major research themes: strategic collaboration, relationship management, innovation and risk resilience, infrastructure procurement, lean construction, and organizational culture. Australia leads in research output, with increasing contributions from Finland, the UK, and Malaysia. Over time, the focus has shifted from broad alliance principles to specialized areas such as incentive structures, digital integration, sustainability-driven procurement, and collaborative-driven governance. Despite growing global interest, gaps remain in alliance organizational culture and capability building, contractual governance, and sustainability integration. This study provides a research roadmap, guiding future studies and industry adoption of project alliancing for improved collaboration and efficiency.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | bibliometric analysis; collaborative contracting; construction management; construction procurement; project alliancing; scientific mapping |
| Index terms: | procurement strategy, Australia, Finland, governance, Malaysia, efficiency, alliancing, future study, construction procurement, relationship management, research output, bibliometric analysis, research roadmap, lean construction, organizational culture, publication, collaboration, mapping, integration, evolution |
| Subjects: | business, research design and methodology, sociology, organizational analysis, research evaluation and metrics, performance management, management, contractual arrangements, environmental science, research products and data, research dissemination and communication, building construction, research management, Geography, spatial and geospatial analysis |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Sustainability, Procurement, Geographical Context, Site Management, Organizational Design, Human Resources, Governance, Information Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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