In the Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) industry, the rigidity of traditional contracting approaches (e.g., design-bid-build) has resulted in poor overall project performance. To change the situation, researchers and construction practitioners have dedicated themselves to exploring more efficient and effective project delivery methods. During the past few decades, they have created and refined some innovative models which use relational contracting approaches for project delivery. Compared with traditional ones, projects employing relational contracting approaches have led to higher levels of innovation, more efficiency, and better project outcomes.
This research introduced and discussed a new relational contracting approach, Integrated Project Delivery TM (IPD), to provide practitioners another option to achieve better project delivery process. By addressing its concept, background, principles and techniques, this research explored how IPD achieves relational contracting through traditional project management methods. By investigating the case study of the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) project, this research revealed how IPD fostered construction innovations and improved overall project performance. The investigation of four innovations further provided some insight into IPD practice. The four innovations studied on the OUC project include: (1) Installing the Entire Conduit Underground, (2) Prefabricating Pipe Hangers off Site, (3) Managing the Structural Design for Global Optimization, and (4) Matching Actual Equipment and Pipe Color with 3D Model Color.
The OUC project provided practitioners a concrete example on how IPD overcame hurdles (e.g., scheduling restraints) through innovations and finally achieved outstanding project outcomes. All in all, IPD offers practitioners another option of the relational contracting approach for achieving better project delivery process. To provide a continuous refinement of IPD, this research also presented some suggestions for future research.