https://doi.org/10.24928/2019/0265
Exploratory Study of ‘Costing Collaboratively’ in the Uk Construction Industry
Sa’id Ahmed1, Christine Pasquire2 & Emmanuel Manu3
1PhD Candidate, Centre for Lean Projects, School of Architecture, Design and Built Environment, Nottingham Trent University, UK, +44(0)7592030388, [email protected]2Professor, School of Architecture, Design and Built Environment, and Director Centre for Lean Projects, Nottingham Trent University, UK, +44(0) 115 848 2095, [email protected]
3Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture, Design and Built and the Built Environment, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK, +44 (0)115 848 6064, [email protected]
Abstract
This research study looks at how stakeholders collaborate over costing in the UK construction industry. The purpose is to define the concept of ‘costing collaboratively’ (CC), to widen understanding of collaboration. Post economic recession, more collaborative practices have been regarded as strategies for transforming construction challenges. However, studies have shown that these practices are fading in the UK, because of fragmentation, adversarialism and, clients preference for lowest tender, whilst cost consultants struggles to be involved in collaborative working especially, during costing activities. The primary research used a multiple case study approach, which aggregated data from interviews and documentary analysis (financial business case; costing & estimating manuals etc.). Overall, 23 interviews were captured with cost consultants, lean practitioners, main contractors among others within the building and infrastructure sectors in the UK. The results showed attributes, like target costing, optioneering and all-inclusive value engineering, as relevant constituents of CC. Accordingly, these were used to defined CC as an approach that engaged stakeholders (upstream and downstream) around wider scheme budgets creating a sense of ownership, driving positive behaviours to achieve desired cost outcomes. However, the results also show that although CC is progressing within the multidisciplinary settings, the approach is still driven by price, and a limited understanding continue to affect the wider practice of collaboration in the UK construction industry.
Keywords
Collaboration, target costing, construction, costing collaboratively, target value design.
Files
Reference
Ahmed, S. , Pasquire, C. & Manu, E. 2019. Exploratory Study of ‘Costing Collaboratively’ in the Uk Construction Industry, Proc. 27th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) , 1163-1174. doi.org/10.24928/2019/0265
Download: BibTeX | RIS Format
Founded in 1993, the IGLC is an international network of researchers from practice and academia in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) who feel that the practice, education, and research of the AEC industry have to be radically renewed in order to respond to the global challenges ahead.
2015 © All Rights Reserved.