Understanding how to systemise, organise, and finance the design, construction, operation, and maintenance activities are all parameters needed to be optimised simultaneously in a Project Delivery Method. To meet the challenges of increasingly complex projects, a new class of delivery methods is emerging. These methods are often labelled “collaborative” since they seek to align the client’s interest with those of the supply chain. The purpose of this article is to present the current state-of-the-art through a review of 156 identified articles concerning Partnering, Integrated Project Delivery, Alliancing, Relational Contracting, and Relationship-Based Procurement. A framework for the methodological procedure based on the state of the art within qualitative research was elaborated and is reported on in this paper. The results show that there is a range of research on collaborative project delivery methods across the world. By analysing the study purposes, important themes generated and delineated as a) Conceptualisation, b) Implementation and experiences, c) Pros & Cons, d) Building Partnership & Social Dimensions, and e) Performance and Success. The paper provides an overview of collaborative project delivery methods identified in the realm of academic journals. Secondly, knowledge gaps have been identified by creating a summary of the body of evidence.

Purpose: To achieve the shift towards sustainable construction the industry must change the project delivery methods used. Therefore, this paper reports on a high-performance building project that implemented a collaborative project delivery method through the examination of the following research questions: RQ1: What were the most important contractual, cultural and organisational elements studied in the collaborative project delivery method? RQ2: What were the effects of the studied elements?Design/methodology/approach: A longitudinal case study approach was adopted. As for means of data collection, a document review, semi-structured interviews, and observations was conducted. A total of 20 observations (App. 80 h, 175 pages of notes) and 12 interviews (App. 20 h, 100 pages of notes) with project participants was conducted.Findings: The analysis indicates that if attention is paid to task, team and individual needs through contractual, cultural and organisational elements, this will affect the development of an integrated team.Research limitations/implications: We demonstrate that the effects of the elements are shown through their achievement in creating and sustaining an integrated team of inter-organisational participants working in a collaborative environment.Practical implications: It provides a better understanding of how a collaborative project delivery method for the design phase emphasises team integration. We demonstrate that while the principal sets the contractual boundaries by deciding the contractual elements, the agent should be intentional in the selection and use of organizational and cultural elements.Originality/value: The paper suggests that it is not enough to just have contractual elements implemented. Consequently, this insight suggests that managers should be attentive to the untapped potential that lies within organisational and cultural elements.

Trust is a prerequisite in all endeavours concerning uncertainty and interdependencies. By studying the development of a sustainable, high performing building this paper report on such an endeavour. The client implemented a collaborative project delivery method where key actors were brought together to collaboratively develop the project in the design phase. For the participants to collaborate, and thus work as a high-performance team, there was a need for trust. Therefore, this study addresses the following research questions: what was perceived as the key elements for building trust in this project? and, how did the key elements impact the trust-building in this project? The study is based on observations of weekly design meetings (so-called Big-Room sessions), as well as secondary data from a document study, and a supplementary questionnaire. Trust was essential as the participants were able to rely on each other’s expertise and work interdependently towards a common goal. The most prominent elements that affected trust were the start-up seminar, team composition, shared interest, support from management, joint problem solving, and the use of integrated concurrent engineering. These elements built and sustained trust due to their ability to create or positively impact the experiences, problem-solving, shared goals, reciprocity, and reasonable behaviour of the project team. The insight into how the collaborative project delivery method build trust may be valuable for practitioners and researchers alike.

The literature acknowledges criminal behavior in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry as a problem that needs addressing, but few comprehensive reviews of the research field exist to date. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the extent of research carried out in the field. The paper reports on a scoping literature review on crime in the AEC industry and explores how the literature covers crime in construction, and more specifically the topics of materials, organization, and health, safety, and environment (HSE). The results indicate that research in this area has only recently begun to take off. Characteristics of the AEC industry seem to facilitate the embedding of criminal actors, and in turn, activities leading to crime. The research topics are not covered evenly, and some, namely materials and HSE issues, are lagging behind. This study aids practitioners by highlighting the extent of these topics within the AEC industry. It also provides a number of departure points that can be used by academics for further research.

Lean construction has inspired the AEC industry globally over the last decades, and this manifests within a wide array of contexts. The purpose of this paper is to provide a narrative-based qualitative analysis of the emergence and impact of Lean construction on a national level, notably in the Norwegian AEC industry. The analysis is based on the concept of paradigm shift and on empirical knowledge in the form of narratives. The narratives of practitioners and researchers provide deep insights into how Lean Construction has inspired the Norwegian AEC industry and academia, respectively. The reflections indicate that the introduction of the Lean construction principles and tools in the Norwegian AEC industry has depended on promoters who have been convinced about its advantages. The role of active promoters – in particular Dr. Glenn Ballard – is underlined as key to successful introduction of Lean Construction. Key cultural features of the Norwegian AEC industry are emphasized as important success factors. Lean Construction in Norway needs to be understood as a phenomenon occurring within a setting that is generally advantageous but also following an effort carried out on several levels. Key elements that can be used within other contexts are (1) the existence of promoters, (2) cooperation between industry and academic circles, (3) a high degree of trust and (4) a predominance of bottom-up organizations within the industry with few levels of hierarchy.