Exploratory study of 'costing collaboratively' in the UK construction industry

Ahmed, S.N. ORCID: 0000-0002-3815-0683, Pasquire, C. ORCID: 0000-0001-6344-2031 and Manu, E. ORCID: 0000-0002-9002-3681, 2019. Exploratory study of 'costing collaboratively' in the UK construction industry. In: C. Pasquire ORCID: 0000-0001-6344-2031 and F.R. Hamzeh, eds., Proceedings of the 27th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 2019), Dublin, Ireland, 3-5 July 2019. International Group for Lean Construction, pp. 1163-1174.

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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.

Item Type:	Chapter in book
Creators:	Ahmed, S.N., Pasquire, C. and Manu, E.
Publisher:	International Group for Lean Construction
Date:	July 2019
ISSN:	2309-0979
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.24928/2019/0265 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	25 Sep 2019 15:22
Last Modified:	25 Sep 2019 15:22
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/37782

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