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Fortune, C and Hinks, J (1999) Quality issues in building project price forecasting: factors affecting model selection. Journal of Construction Procurement, 5(02), 129–40.
Green, S D (1999) Partnering: the propaganda of corporatism?. Journal of Construction Procurement, 5(02), 177–86.
- Type: Journal Article
- Keywords: continuous improvement; corporatism; critical theory; customer responsiveness; partnering; technocratic totalitarianism
- ISBN/ISSN: 1358-9180
- URL:
- Abstract:
A critical perspective on partnering is developed with reference to current concerns regarding the increasingly corporatist nature of global capitalism. Many leading clients advocate partnering as a means of improving customer responsiveness and ensuring continuous improvement. The seductive rhetoric of partnering too often serves only to disguise the crude exercise of buying power. In the UK, the four largest supermarket chains are all leading advocates of partnering. Ironically, the grocery sector has attracted sustained public criticism regarding its exploitative supply chain management practices. Evidence suggests that the resultant savings are not automatically passed on to customers. Despite these concerns, the large supermarkets continue to preach 'customer responsiveness' to a seemingly gullible construction industry. It is argued that the doctrine of customer responsiveness ultimately owes more to corporatist propaganda than to progressive management policies. The buying power of the industry's major clients continually discourages dissent to the partnering ideal. Construction companies that are not similarly committed risk being denied access to a substantial proportion of the UK market. The increasing influence of industry on the construction research agenda also discourages academics from challenging the legitimacy of partnering discourse. There is an urgent need for research which is independent of commercial vested interests.
Kaka, A P and Boussabaine, A H (1999) Updating techniques for cumulative cost forecasting on construction projects. Journal of Construction Procurement, 5(02), 141–58.
Kumaraswamy, M M and Chan, D W M (1999) Factors facilitating faster construction. Journal of Construction Procurement, 5(02), 88–98.
Lahdenperä, P (1999) Restructuring the building industry for improved performance. Journal of Construction Procurement, 5(02), 118–28.
Lenard, D (1999) Future challenges in construction management: creating a symbiotic learning environment. Journal of Construction Procurement, 5(02), 197–210.
Muya, M, Price, A D F, Thorpe, A and Edum-Fotwe, F (1999) Application of analytic hierarchy process to the evaluation of logistics factors and their contribution to improvements in construction materials supply. Journal of Construction Procurement, 5(02), 99–117.
Newcombe, R (1999) Procurement as a learning process. Journal of Construction Procurement, 5(02), 211–20.
Ogunlana, S O (1999) Procurement lessons from Solomon's temple project. Journal of Construction Procurement, 5(02), 187–96.
Uher, T E (1999) Partnering performance in Australia. Journal of Construction Procurement, 5(02), 163–76.