Competing or working together for common success? Partnership in public projects.

This article explores the concept of partnership in public projects and its potential for success. It provides examples of collaboration in construction projects, such as the resolution of a problem during the construction of Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5. The importance of trust, the win-win philosophy, collective risk management, and sharing profits and losses are discussed as key factors in fostering successful partnerships. The article also discusses different types of contracts and the necessary factors for implementing relational contracts. Commitment, stakeholder buy-in, active participation, and the allocation of resources are highlighted as important aspects of project management. The concept of early contractor involvement and joint problem-solving are also explored. The text mentions that governments in the US, Australia, and the UK promote or require a partnership approach to project execution. The benefits of partnership-based relational contracts are discussed, including reduced conflicts and disputes and a focus on creating products rather than legal proceedings. [Extracted from the article]