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Nilsson Vestola, E. & Eriksson, P.-E. (2023). Engineered and emerged collaboration: vicious and virtuous cycles. Construction Management and Economics, 41(3), 79-96
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Engineered and emerged collaboration: vicious and virtuous cycles
2023 (English)In: Construction Management and Economics, ISSN 0144-6193, E-ISSN 1466-433X, Vol. 41, no 3, p. 79-96Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Inter-organizational collaboration within the construction industry consists of both engineered and emerged aspects. Engineered formal practices and emerged informal practices interplay in their influence on the overall success of client-contractor collaboration. This interplay has been recognized but is still understudied and requires further research to increase the understanding of how the interplay functions. To enable the study of the emerged aspects of collaboration we applied a practice-based approach in a longitudinal multiple case study, including four projects for operation and maintenance of road infrastructure. This paper contributes to the literature on collaboration in construction by providing detailed examples of how the interplay between engineered and emerged collaboration may unfold, showing how formal and informal practices contribute to the development of vicious and virtuous cycles of collaboration. Furthermore, our findings indicate that a virtuous cycle of only informal practices can become a weakness if unexpected problems occur. Project managers should therefore be encouraged to implement formal collaboration, even if the project team is already in a virtuous cycle of informal collaboration. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2023
Keywords
Collaboration, partnering, operation and maintenance, practice-based approach
National Category
Other Mechanical Engineering
Research subject
Construction Management and Building Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-93833 (URN)10.1080/01446193.2022.2140815 (DOI)000878896300001 ()2-s2.0-85141352423 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 254-2013-1837Swedish Transport Administration, 2018/11956
Note

Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-04-13 (joosat);

Licens fulltext: CC BY License

Available from: 2022-11-07 Created: 2022-11-07 Last updated: 2023-04-13Bibliographically approved
Eriksson, P.-E., Pesämaa, O. & Larsson, J. (2023). Governing technical and organizational complexity through supply chain integration: A dyadic perspective on performance in infrastructure projects. International Journal of Project Management, 41(4), Article ID 102479.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Governing technical and organizational complexity through supply chain integration: A dyadic perspective on performance in infrastructure projects
2023 (English)In: International Journal of Project Management, ISSN 0263-7863, E-ISSN 1873-4634, Vol. 41, no 4, article id 102479Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Despite its declared importance for governing complexity in projects, few empirical studies have studied how different types of supply chain integration (SCI) activities (e.g., coordinative and collaborative integration) interplay and affect performance. To address this gap, the purpose of this paper is to study how complexity can be governed through coordinative and collaborative SCI, and how their interplay affects performance in project-based buyer-supplier relationships. We apply structural equation modeling, using dyadic empirical data from 102 infrastructure projects. The overall results verify our developed model and illuminate how the interplay between contractual and relational governance, in terms of coordinative and collaborative SCI, mediates the effect of technical and organizational complexity on project performance. This study contributes to theory and practice by distinguishing between contractual governance based on formal coordinative SCI and relational governance based on emerged collaborative SCI, as well as showing how their interplay affects performance in project-based supply chains.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier Ltd, 2023
Keywords
Complexity, Contractual and relational governance, Project performance, Supply chain integration
National Category
Business Administration
Research subject
Accounting and Control; Construction Management and Building Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-99296 (URN)10.1016/j.ijproman.2023.102479 (DOI)001037687500001 ()2-s2.0-85162905071 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 942–2016–126Swedish Transport Administration, TRV 2018/53555
Note

Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-08-08 (joosat);

Licens fulltext: CC BY License

Available from: 2023-08-08 Created: 2023-08-08 Last updated: 2023-09-05Bibliographically approved
Granheimer, K., Eriksson, P.-E. & Karrbom Gustavsson, T. (2022). Adaptability in Public Procurement of Engineering Services Promoting Carbon Reduction: An Organizational Control Perspective. Sustainability, 14(10), Article ID 5958.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Adaptability in Public Procurement of Engineering Services Promoting Carbon Reduction: An Organizational Control Perspective
2022 (English)In: Sustainability, E-ISSN 2071-1050, Vol. 14, no 10, article id 5958Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Many studies have emphasized the importance of engineering services and their adaptability to reduce carbon emissions in the construction sector. As public clients procure these services, selecting efficient (procurement-related) control modes is critical. However, studies of control modes and their effect on adaptability are scarce. The purpose of this study is to investigate how, through the choice of control modes, a public client may create incentives for service providers to deliver carbon reduction solutions in the construction phase. In this study, a procurement model and a classification model are developed, and a single case study of an engineering service contract aiming for carbon reduction is used to illustrate the models. The empirical data include 16 interviews with respondents from the 2 contract parties, i.e., the client and service provider. The findings show that it is important to create incentives for adaptability when procuring engineering services with the aim of reducing carbon emissions in the construction phase. The findings also highlight the importance of these incentives being created both in relation to the selection of service providers and to the responsibility between the contract parties. The models developed in the study may serve as important tools for both practitioners and researchers. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI, 2022
Keywords
adaptability, carbon emission reduction, construction management, engineering services, incentives, organizational control, public procurement
National Category
Construction Management
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-95187 (URN)10.3390/su14105958 (DOI)000801326900001 ()2-s2.0-85130788916 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Transport Administration, TRV 2019/40476Swedish Transport Administration
Available from: 2023-01-09 Created: 2023-01-09 Last updated: 2023-01-25Bibliographically approved
Ekeskär, A., Havenvid, M. I., Karrbom Gustavsson, T. & Eriksson, P. E. (2022). Construction logistics in a multi-project context: coopetition among main contractors and the role of third-party logistics providers. Construction Management and Economics, 40(1), 25-40
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Construction logistics in a multi-project context: coopetition among main contractors and the role of third-party logistics providers
2022 (English)In: Construction Management and Economics, ISSN 0144-6193, E-ISSN 1466-433X, Vol. 40, no 1, p. 25-40Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

As a part of supply chain management (SCM) initiatives to improve performance and productivity in construction projects, the use of construction logistics setups (CLSs) operated by third-party logistics (TPL) providers have increased. CLSs are often used in complex multi-project contexts, such as urban development districts, where extensive coordination of actors, resources, and activities is needed. The purpose of this paper is twofold: to investigate how main contractors engage in horizontal relationships with each other when coordinating activities and resources within and across projects in a multi-project context, and to investigate what role a TPL provider assumes when engaging in relationships with main contractors in a multi-project context. The findings are based on a case study of an urban development district with a mandatory TPL-operated CLS, and we apply the industrial network approach. In this multi-project context, the main contractors engage in coopetitive relationships, coordinating activities and resources within and across projects. The TPL provider coordinates actors, resources, and activities, facilitating smoother production by managing logistics and mediating coopetitive relationships. This can be understood as a multi-project coordination role and extends the role SCM can play in construction. In that role, a TPL provider can minimise tensions between coopetitive actors across a multitude of horizontal relationships and projects.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2022
Keywords
Supply chain management, third-party logistics, industrial network approach, multi-project, coopetition
National Category
Construction Management
Research subject
Construction Management and Building Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-88414 (URN)10.1080/01446193.2021.2012815 (DOI)000729675700001 ()2-s2.0-85121428264 (Scopus ID)
Note

Validerad;2022;Nivå 2;2022-03-01 (sofila)

Available from: 2021-12-14 Created: 2021-12-14 Last updated: 2022-10-26Bibliographically approved
Järvenpää, A.-T., Eriksson, P.-E. & Larsson, J. (2022). Exploring a public client’s control systems in infrastructure projects from a relationship history perspective. Construction Management and Economics, 40(1), 56-71
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Exploring a public client’s control systems in infrastructure projects from a relationship history perspective
2022 (English)In: Construction Management and Economics, ISSN 0144-6193, E-ISSN 1466-433X, Vol. 40, no 1, p. 56-71Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Using a proper control system is vital to ensure that project delivery is satisfactory for the client. Prior research has identified relationship history as a potentially vital contingency factor in organizational control, but there is a lack of research on how relationship history affects how different control systems function in project-based contexts. In the Swedish infrastructure market, increased demand has resulted in a need for increased supply capacity. This has spurred new entrants that have no relationship history with the major client, the Swedish Transport Administration. The purpose is therefore to compare how the client’s control systems function in construction projects with familiar (known to the client) and unfamiliar (new to the client) contractors. The case study involves 32 interviews conducted in six infrastructure projects, three with unfamiliar contractors. Findings show that relationship history heavily influences how the control systems function, especially bureaucratic and clan control. The new contractors are unaccustomed with the client’s extensive use of bureaucratic control and perceive it as less suitable in design-build contracts. Furthermore, the lack of relationship history reduces the opportunity to use clan control from the beginning of a project, due to unfamiliarity with both the client and the control system.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2022
Keywords
Organizational control, inter-organizational relationship, infrastructure projects, relationship history, Sweden
National Category
Construction Management
Research subject
Construction Management and Building Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-88425 (URN)10.1080/01446193.2021.2014064 (DOI)000730073500001 ()2-s2.0-85121572798 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 942-2016-126Swedish Transport Administration, TRV/2016/63119
Note

Validerad;2022;Nivå 2;2022-03-07 (sofila)

Available from: 2021-12-15 Created: 2021-12-15 Last updated: 2023-09-05Bibliographically approved
Järvenpää, A.-T., Larsson, J. & Eriksson, P.-E. (2022). How public client’s control systems affect contractors’ innovation possibilities. Construction Innovation
Open this publication in new window or tab >>How public client’s control systems affect contractors’ innovation possibilities
2022 (English)In: Construction Innovation, ISSN 1471-4175, E-ISSN 1477-0857Article in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print
Abstract [en]

Purpose

This paper aims to identify how a public client’s use of control systems (process, output and social control) affect innovation possibilities in construction projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews about six infrastructure projects were conducted to identify respondents’ views on innovation possibilities. These possibilities were then analyzed from an organizational control perspective within principal–agent relationships between the Swedish Transport Administration (STA) and their contractors.

Findings

How the client uses control systems affects innovation possibilities. Relying on process control could negatively affect innovation opportunities, whereas output control could have a positive influence. In addition, social control seems to have a weak effect, as the STA appears not to use social control to facilitate joint innovation. Public clients must comply with the Public Procurement Act and, therefore, retain the requirements specified in the tendering documents. Much of the steering of the execution is connected to the ex ante phase (before signing the contract), which affects innovation possibilities in the design and execution phases for the contractor.

Research limitations/implications

This study was conducted with only one client, thus limiting its generalizability. However, the findings provide an important stepping stone to further investigation into balancing control systems and creating innovation possibilities in a principal–agent relationship.

Originality/value

Although public procurement has increasingly been emphasized as a major potential source of innovation, studying how a public client’s use of organizational control systems affects innovation possibilities in the construction sector has received scant attention.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2022
Keywords
Organizational control, Inter-organizational relationships, Innovation, Public procurement
National Category
Construction Management
Research subject
Construction Management and Building Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-90336 (URN)10.1108/CI-03-2022-0054 (DOI)000827536500001 ()2-s2.0-85134222633 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 942-2016-126Swedish Transport Administration, TRV/2016/63119
Available from: 2022-04-21 Created: 2022-04-21 Last updated: 2023-09-05
Larsson, J., Eriksson, P.-E., Lingegård, S. & Järvenpää, A.-T. (2022). Innovation outcomes and processes in infrastructure projects – a comparative study of Design-Build and Design-Build-Maintenance contracts. Construction Management and Economics, 40(2), 142-156
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Innovation outcomes and processes in infrastructure projects – a comparative study of Design-Build and Design-Build-Maintenance contracts
2022 (English)In: Construction Management and Economics, ISSN 0144-6193, E-ISSN 1466-433X, Vol. 40, no 2, p. 142-156Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Innovation is often seen as essential for long-term development in the construction industry, but its actual outcomes and processes in construction projects require more attention. Many studies on procurement strategies and delivery systems have focussed on the public transport infrastructure sector, whereas most construction innovation scholars have addressed the innovation phenomenon in construction generally. Thus, the purpose of this study is to compare how two delivery systems, design-build (DB) and design-build-maintenance (DBM), influence project-level innovation. Findings are based on empirical data from a multiple case study of six infrastructure projects, three with DB contracts and three with DBM contracts, in which 12 innovations are identified, described, and compared. The findings show that various kinds of innovations in terms of outcomes and processes are implemented in infrastructure projects, and that the delivery system do effect both dimensions. Long maintenance responsibilities tend to spur contractors to engage in early exploration of sustainable solutions that could be of long-term benefit. The research contributes to procurement literature by exemplifying how delivery systems influence both the outcomes and processes of project-level innovations. It also increases our knowledge about construction innovation as a multi-dimensional phenomenon.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2022
Keywords
case study, construction innovation, delivery system, design-build, life-cycle perspective, maintenance, Project-level
National Category
Construction Management
Research subject
Construction Management and Building Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-89036 (URN)10.1080/01446193.2021.2024864 (DOI)000743322000001 ()2-s2.0-85122850870 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2016-5354-31998-40Swedish Transport Administration, RV 2016/63119
Note

Validerad;2022;Nivå 2;2022-02-02 (johcin)

Available from: 2022-02-02 Created: 2022-02-02 Last updated: 2023-09-05Bibliographically approved
Lingegård, S., Havenvid, M. I. & Eriksson, P.-E. (2021). Circular Public Procurement through Integrated Contracts in the Infrastructure Sector. Sustainability, 13(21), Article ID 11983.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Circular Public Procurement through Integrated Contracts in the Infrastructure Sector
2021 (English)In: Sustainability, E-ISSN 2071-1050, Vol. 13, no 21, article id 11983Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Public clients’ procurement strategies are central in facilitating innovation towards sustainability. In the infrastructure sector, the three main project activities—design, production, and maintenance—are traditionally not procured in an integrated way, which results in sub-optimizations and a lack of life cycle perspective. As project actors are accustomed to traditional, non-integrated forms of contract, implementing integrated contracts imposes fundamental changes to the interdependencies among actors, resources, and activities. This study analyzes the interfaces among key project actors and the related interdependencies across design, production, and maintenance in Design–Build–Maintain contracts, and initiates a discussion on how to manage these interdependencies when implementing integrated contracts. This study of circular public procurement (CPP) focused on three infrastructure projects using integrated contracting and applied the industrial network approach (INA) to analyze interdependencies in how they may influence innovation and sustainable development. The study found significant obstacles to clients obtaining the benefits of integrated contracting and concludes that understanding interdependencies is necessary to implement integrated contracts successfully. The study contributes to the construction management literature by adapting the INA to contracting, and to the CPP literature by providing empirical evidence of sustainability and circularity in infrastructure projects.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI, 2021
Keywords
circular public procurement, interdependencies, integrated contracts, design–build–maintain, infrastructure projects, industrial network approach, sustainability, life cycle perspective, sustainable public procurement
National Category
Construction Management
Research subject
Construction Management and Building Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-87820 (URN)10.3390/su132111983 (DOI)000720039200001 ()2-s2.0-85118159079 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 254-2013-1837; 942-2016-126
Note

Validerad;2021;Nivå 2;2021-11-08 (beamah)

Available from: 2021-11-08 Created: 2021-11-08 Last updated: 2022-02-10Bibliographically approved
Nilsson Vestola, E., Eriksson, P.-E., Larsson, J. & Karrbom Gustavsson, T. (2021). Temporary and permanent aspects of project organizing – operation and maintenance of road infrastructure. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 14(7), 1444-1462
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Temporary and permanent aspects of project organizing – operation and maintenance of road infrastructure
2021 (English)In: International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, ISSN 1753-8378, E-ISSN 1753-8386, Vol. 14, no 7, p. 1444-1462Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose – To explore the interdependencies between temporary and permanent aspects of project organizing and how they affect the management of public infrastructure operation and maintenance (O&M) activities.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper applies a case study approach and uses Lundin and Söderholm’s (1995) framework of the temporary organization (with the themes of time, task, team, and transition) to distinguish between temporary and permanent aspects of organizing two infrastructure O&M projects.

Findings – This paper adds to the literature on temporary organizations by recognizing a mixture of temporary and permanent aspects of project organizing in an empirical project-level example. In line with previous research, the themes of time, task, team, and transition were shown to be interdependent. Furthermore, the paper broadens the theory of temporary organizations by presenting a project organization with significant permanent aspects.

Practical implications – Project managers of public sector projects need to be aware of the possible mixture of temporary and permanent aspects of project organizing. Management of projects that are found to have a mixture of temporary and permanent aspects should combine the perspectives and management practices of both temporary and permanent organizing. Not acknowledging permanent aspects could lead to management that is not adapted to the prerequisites of project organizing in this context.

Originality/value – The findings further develop the literature on temporary organizations by recognizing that there is not only a mixture of temporary and permanent aspects between the temporary organization and its permanent environment, but there is also a mixture of temporary and permanent aspects of organizing within project organizations.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2021
Keywords
project management, temporary organizations, procurement, operation and maintenance, Public procurement, projektledning, temporära organisationer, upphandling, drift och underhåll
National Category
Construction Management Business Administration
Research subject
Construction Management and Building Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-85134 (URN)10.1108/IJMPB-09-2020-0279 (DOI)000660861500001 ()2-s2.0-85107816786 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Transport Administration, 174249Swedish Research Council Formas, 254-2013-1837
Note

Validerad;2021;Nivå 2;2021-10-22 (alebob)

Available from: 2021-06-10 Created: 2021-06-10 Last updated: 2023-09-05Bibliographically approved
Hedborg, S., Eriksson, P.-E. & Karrbom Gustavsson, T. (2020). Organisational routines in multi-project contexts: Coordinating in an urban development project ecology. International Journal of Project Management, 38(7), 394-404
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Organisational routines in multi-project contexts: Coordinating in an urban development project ecology
2020 (English)In: International Journal of Project Management, ISSN 0263-7863, E-ISSN 1873-4634, Vol. 38, no 7, p. 394-404Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Project management literature have focused on either intra-organisational relationships or on vertical inter-organisational relationships. The purpose of this paper is to explore inter-project interdependencies and coordinating in multi-project contexts by using the notion of project ecologies. We adopt an organisational routines perspective to explore the coordinating practices managing those interdependencies. The empirical material underpinning our findings were collected and analysed through a case study of an urban development district, new to both the project ecology literature and the organisational routines literature. The findings highlight the existence and importance of horizontal interdependencies in project ecologies, as compared to the more commonly studied interdependencies in vertical relationships within and between projects. The need for horizontal coordinating is outside project managers’ regular focus on steering vertical relationships. Accordingly, the routines to manage the horizontal interdependencies in project ecologies are different to those in more engineered routines that are often described in project management guidelines.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2020
Keywords
Multi-project context, Horizontal interdependencies, Routines, Project ecology, Coordinating
National Category
Construction Management
Research subject
Construction Management and Building Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-82372 (URN)10.1016/j.ijproman.2020.01.003 (DOI)000594531500003 ()2-s2.0-85079158843 (Scopus ID)
Note

Godkänd;2021;Nivå 0;2021-01-14 (alebob)

Available from: 2021-01-14 Created: 2021-01-14 Last updated: 2021-01-14Bibliographically approved
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