Owner–Contractor Work Structures: Process Approach

This paper describes a process to assist project managers, within owner companies, define work relationships between owners and their contractors for capital project development, and execution. The owner–contractor work structure process was developed by the Construction Industry Institute as a step-by-step process for making rational decisions about the most appropriate owner–contractor work structure for capital projects. A work structure is described by a set of project competencies and the extent of involvement of the owner and contractor in performing, leading, and/or providing input with respect to those project competencies. The process is described using a formal process modeling technique. Three case studies, conducted to validate the owner–contractor work structure process, are discussed. The results from these case studies suggested some basic changes to the process that would enhance its use in practice. A modified owner–contractor work structure process is then presented.