Evaluation of individual characteristics in partnering projects

Paper i proceeding, 2007

Partnering arrangements have become more common in the Swedish construction sector over the last years. However, studies show that some issues are not yet established in partnering projects, e.g., the evaluation of “soft parameters” in recruitment processes of staff. Accordingly, there is a need of further investigation of the process of evaluating key persons’ attitudes and cooperation capabilities. Based on a study of three cases, partnering projects, this paper aims at improving the methods that has been used for evaluation of companies’ representatives in partnering projects. Focus is on the relationships between actors, individual characteristics, i.e., soft parameters that may have effect on project outcomes. The finding indicates fundamental problems in the evaluation process of key staff’ characteristics and also deficiencies in the methods used for evaluation purpose. To develop a satisfactory relationship between actors in a partnering project, key persons should fulfil four criteria of competence, integrity, benevolence and attitudes to teamwork. Each of these criteria contains large number of characteristics and attitudes that should be discussed by actors at an early stage of a partnering project.