Patricia M. Hillebrandt

Do recent moves in the construction industry towards collaborative working and other new procurement procedures really make good business sense? Procurement in the Construction Industry is the result of research into this question and it includes the first rigorous categorizing of the differences between procurement methods currently in use. In the process of carrying out this research, the team has produced a comprehensive study of procurement methods which looks in detail at the relative benefits and costs of different ways of working, with sometimes surprising results. As such, it is not only a valuable guide for practitioners on the complexities of the procurement process, but also an outline of the relevance of economic theory to the construction sector.

Do recent moves in the construction industry towards collaborative working and other new procurement procedures really make good business sense? Procurement in the Construction Industry is the result of research into this question and it includes the first rigorous categorizing of the differences between procurement methods currently in use. In the process of carrying out this research, the team has produced a comprehensive study of procurement methods which looks in detail at the relative benefits and costs of different ways of working, with sometimes surprising results. As such, it is not only a valuable guide for practitioners on the complexities of the procurement process, but also an outline of the relevance of economic theory to the construction sector.

Can the construction industry cope with the challenges of the future? Is it fitter and leaner or thinner and weaker? This book presents a challenging analysis of the state of large construction companies. It focuses on the changes in their environment and behaviour from the boom conditions of the late 1980s, the decline in the firms' traditional markets and their attempts to develop others, the disastrous financial experiences of the early 1990s, the changes in strategies and structures and in the management of the firms. It is based on published data and interviews with senior executives of twenty major companies.

'A refreshing and useful addition to the folklore of management. All in all this is a worthwhile insight into the management views and structure of some of our leading construction companies.' - J. J. Farrow, Chartered Builder This volume describes and analyses the behaviour of large UK construction firms in the determination and implementation of their strategy. It covers, in addition to the selection of objectives and the methods for their achievement, policies on growth and diversification, finance, marketing and bidding, international operations, management and labour and subcontracting. Throughout the book the relationship is examined between the theory outlined in the companion volume and the actual behaviour of firms. The final chapter concludes with a discussion of the means to bridge the gaps which are found to exist between theory and practice.

This is a critical and descriptive analysis of the UK construction industry based on up-to-date statistics. The emphasis is on the industry as a whole, including its associated professions, rather than on individual firms or projects. Dr Hillebrandt examines the structure and resources of the industry, the demands made on it and its responses. A concise and comprehensive picture of the industry is given which will enable readers to understand what it does, how it works and how it is likely to develop.