Developing a Multi Project-Collaboration Based IPD Framework for Small & Medium Scale Enterprises in the Construction Industry

Abstract

Small and medium enterprises (SME) in construction projects frequently struggle to manage labour, materials, finances, and equipment. The Integrated Project Delivery method (IPD) has the potential to solve these challenges. However, the existing IPD framework has a low feasibility rate in SMEs due to technological, financial, and managerial challenges. This is because IPD is a project delivery system that requires adequate capital, communication channels, software, training for workers, etc. which are usually available with large-scale construction projects but not with SME-based projects. Accordingly, this paper proposes a new IPD framework more specific to small and medium scale construction projects by improving the existing framework in terms of resource management and cross-validation of stakeholders. The proposed framework enables the SME projects to acquire and manage the resources for conducting IPD through the concept of "Multi-Project collaboration". In the collaboration, multiple contractors with individual projects cooperate with one another for achieving a positive impact on their performance through the IPD method. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by enabling the construction industry to understand the effective application of the IPD method to SME projects.