Research Synthesis Connecting Trends in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Project Partnering

Over the last three decades, substantial research in construction management highlights the benefits and shortcomings of project partnering in architecture, engineering, and construction projects. Building upon a comprehensive conceptual model, this study provides a synthesis of the extant architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) partnering literature guided by a meta-analytic approach. Findings provide strong evidence supporting the proposed conceptual partnered-project delivery framework. Specifically, this paper contributes to the body of knowledge in construction management by bringing together dispersed project-partnering theories and concepts while illustrating gaps and pinpointing areas for future research. In addition, the present study reveals that best-practice elements for partnered-projects such as (1) partnering workshops, (2) mutual goals and objectives effectively communicated, and (3) team-building sessions have been investigated extensively in the literature as vital components to achieve project performance goals. Finally, this study shows that partnering elements related to organizational outcomes (e.g., improved profit margins, stronger industry reputations and relationships, increased business opportunities) in the literature have received limited attention from researchers.