Mikael Frödell

Swedish construction clients' views on project success and measuring performance

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to increase the understanding of clients attitudes to project success and to measuring performance. Four questions are discussed: what are the success factors, what are the success criteria, how to achieve success and what are the characteristics of systems for measuring project performance? The findings will support the development of systems for measuring performance in construction projects.Design/methodology/approach – The paper focuses on professional clients and their organizations within the field of Swedish construction. It is based on semi‐structured interviews with 23 experienced individuals within professional client organisations.Findings – The most important success factors have been identified as the users participation, commitment to the project, high standard of quality consideration among the construction workforce and team working. The most important characteristics for systems for measuring performance are simplicity and credible results.Practical im...

Criteria for achieving efficient contractor-supplier relations

Purpose – Despite numerous examples of benefits when adapting supplier relationship management in the manufacturing industry, the construction industry still lags behind in such areas as long‐term relationships with suppliers and continuous cost‐reductions. This may be because the characteristics of the construction industry differ from those of the manufacturing industry due to their project‐based structure, its inherent tendency for sub‐optimization and the vast number and variety of suppliers. The purpose of this study is to identify criteria for achieving efficient contractor‐supplier relations in the construction industry and for large contractors.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on the literature on efficiency and differentiation of efficient buyer‐supplier relationships as well as a two‐year case study based on participatory observations and interviews with strategic purchasers at a large Swedish contractor.Findings – As it is not always possible to increase efficiency in the interface...