Partnering in practice: an analysis of collaboration and trust

Many authoritative sources are calling for collaborative and integrated working to be used as a vehicle to obtain better value, levels of quality and service delivery. However, clients in the current economic climate may feel vulnerable about entering into arrangements built on collaborative working practices, which could be deemed as taking unnecessary risk. The effects of recent austerity on collaborative working are explored in this study, with particular emphasis on the positioning of trust within such relationships and its manifestation in practice. A qualitative research methodology approach is adopted through interviews with eight senior UK construction professionals. Findings from the research suggest that construction clients have returned to traditional competitive procurement methods based on lowest cost, seeking to reduce risk in their practices and maintain control in uncertain times. Perceptions of collaborative working have shifted within the austerity context, and individuals have responded with a quest for job security, which has in turn developed risk-averse work practices and affected the establishment of long-term collaborative relationships. Sceptical considerations of collaboration have re-emerged, the abuse of collaborative relationships for financial benefits and employing austerity as leverage. Further research is recommended to examine the repercussions of this shift in both practice and philosophy.