Partnering – More than meetings. A philosophy for successful construction projects.

In recent years, a growing emphasis has been placed on partnering. Partnering on a construction project is a commitment to work together from all key project stakeholders to foster a collaborative and cooperative environment for the greater good of the project. The term partnering is coming up more frequently in the construction industry and contractual requirements to participate in it is now commonplace. So, what is partnering, and what is it not?

Partnering can be a contractual requirement but is not in and of itself a contractually binding relationship. Partnering is not ignoring or relaxing contract terms or circumventing processes. It’s not an excuse for poor performance or a cure-all for issues that arise during construction. Partnering is not easy to achieve and not simply attending meetings once or twice a year. Partnering is working together and following the Contract. It’s a process for building relationships through a philosophy of teamwork and understanding. It’s dedication to open communication and cooperation. It’s an attitude of trust. Partnering is fairness and acting in good faith. It’s a win-win risk-sharing (and reduction) philosophy. Partnering is empowering everyone working on the project to communicate directly and solve problems at the lowest levels.