ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

As earlier indicated the current predominant trend in organisational development highlights a vertical integration of the different actors and their functions in the construction process. This vertical integration and the expansion of cooperation is seen as a necessary means to achieve better quality and productivity in a production process, which traditionally is extremely atomised between the large number of different parties. Many years of practical experience and extensive organisational re-search have established knowledge about the implications of the constantly changing organisational constella-tions and physical surroundings, which constitute the major barriers for further improvement in quality and productivity. During the still shorter action period of construction projects the involved parties do not have the necessary time and confidence to develop long term relations. On the contrary, diverging interests often dominate the interrelations. Obviously this causes pro-blems in respect to achieving the intended quality and leads to overrun of time and costs. In order to reduce the problem of potential counteraction between the involved parties new constellations in the organisation of the process are being investigated. The main issue of such changes is to identify an appropriate distribution of functions and responsibility and to anchor this in a precise but flexible information structure. In a recent contest for an organisational development project programme, Proces- og Produktudvik-ling i Byggeriet (Process and Product Development in Construction), only consortia representing the whole value adding chain were invited to tender. This stands in clear contrast to the traditional set-up, where the contractor is holding the sole obligation for the fulfilment of the contract. In the consortium environment, the design process is undertaken not only by the traditional designers, but also contractors and suppliers participate actively with inputs. The computer integration between all parties must be extensive, preferably with all data concerning the project stored in a commonly accessible database. This database then serves as vital mean of communication, holding all information for the approval by the relevant authorities as well as detailed planning of the construction process including the logistics. Finally the database also serves as basis for the management of care and maintenance operations necessary during the lifetime of the building. An important aspect of this organisational and environmental change created in the consortia is the improved conditions for development of the end-product. It is believed that the active participation of the producers/suppliers of building materials will influence the product in a very positive way. The producers have in depth knowledge of their materials, which - if handled appropriately - leads to cost reductions in terms of fewer defects as well as a better utilisation of the material. As an indication on the innovative potential this new concept, one of the winning consortia in the contest launched a proposal for a multi-storey wooden-based housing project (including all load bearing structures). This is rather unique in a Danish context, since concrete and brick based building techniques have been totally dominant for generations.