Strategic Partnerships Between Project Client and Client’s Agent

Abstract

Strategic partnership is an emerging project delivery method characterized by long-term collaboration in multiple projects. In this paper, we seek to increase the knowledge about strategic partnerships. From a lean perspective, strategic partnerships could be a potential measure towards mitigating inefficiency caused by lacking continuity and previous relationships. Our purpose is to reveal aspects that can help clients and client’s agents organize better strategic partnerships. The client’s agent is the contracted adviser who takes care of all the functions which the client’s project management cannot handle. A literature review and a case study were conducted, where the case study included eight semi-structured interviews. The findings identify several benefits regarding soft factors in a strategic partnership. However, some challenges are also identified, especially by the client. Based on the findings, four measures are suggested to improve strategic partnerships between client and client’s agent: Mutually helping the other part get new projects, ensuring competence development, ensuring availability of demanded qualifications, and more focus on the long-term and future perspective of the strategic partnership.

Strategic Partnerships Between Project Client and Client’s Agent