Chen, G; Zhang, G; Xie, Y M and Jin, X H (2012) Overview of alliancing research and practice in the construction industry. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 8(2), pp. 103-119. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
The increasing attention to alliancing in the construction industry has led to a number of studies in recent years. It is time to present the state of the art of the existing studies on alliancing, identify research gap and opportunity and provide suggestions for future research. This article launches a review and analysis of more than 70 alliancing literatures produced in the last decade, which is organized and synthesized following a five-stage knowledge progression framework. In this way, the limitations of previous studies and knowledge gaps can be identified. Despite the fact that previous studies on alliancing offered various degrees of value to the alliancing practice, some limitations and debates remain awaiting further investigation. In addition, the significant changes associated with alliancing also provide opportunities for future research. Drawing upon transaction cost economics, the article concludes that (i) the efficiency of alliancing in the construction industry needs to be examined, and (ii) the cost management and control practices used in alliancing are worth being explored. Possible research methods are also proposed for carrying out future studies. The information presented in this article may guide scholars and practitioners' endeavour in new alliancing research and practice.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | alliancing; construction industry; partnering; transaction cost economics |
| Index terms: | transaction cost, partnering, alliancing, efficiency, cost management, drawing, investigation, state of the art, practitioner, future study, construction industry |
| Subjects: | technical documentation, contractual arrangements, research design and methodology, research dissemination and communication, data collection methods, practitioner, partnership management, financial analysis, industry analysis, performance management, accounting and finance |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Cost Management, Procurement, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Quality Management, Design 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