Project alliances in Australasia - differences with other forms of relationship based procurement

Abstract

Project alliancing for the delivery of Australasian infrastructure and construction projects is a growing form of project procurement. Project alliancing differs from other forms of alliancing in the business sector between entities that form real or quasi joint ventures in an alliance to jointly deliver products such as aircraft, military assets, or information technology products. The purpose of this paper is to highlight how project alliancing as it currently exists in the Australasian context significantly varies from other relationship-based project procurement forms. The paper extends our knowledge and understanding of this particular alliancing form. The value of this paper lies in its currency in capturing of the lived experience of alliance team members through the rich insights gathered from those intimately involved in them. The implications of reported results on project management practice is that it highlights key defining cultural ambience differences between these alliances and other types relationship-based project procurement forms that need to be understood by all participants to facilitate project success