Development of construction partnering in Mainland China: From theory to application

Over the past two decades, an increasing interest in partnering application has been observed within the construction industry of many countries. The perceived benefits brought about by partnering are plentiful in comparison with other procurement options as evident from the published literature. However, unlike other western countries, the development of construction partnering is still at the stage of theoretical exploration in Mainland China. Many researchers have conducted in-depth analysis of partnering theory and its preliminary implementation mechanisms based on an extensive review of contemporary literature in relation to those regions where partnering has gained its popularity. This paper aims to review the key results of various research studies on partnering development and application in Mainland China. The literature review will be classified according to the following primary areas of study: (1) partnering conceptual theory; (2) partnering applicability analysis; and (3) the barriers, difficulties and critical success factors of partnering implementation. This paper also cites two case studies as the examples of partnering application in Mainland China for further illustration. The research findings will provide some useful insights into the development and application of construction partnering in Mainland China so as to reap sustainable benefits and achieve better project success.