Trust and construction projects: An auto-ethnographic exploration

Associates, who use partnering as a form of cooperation, need to trust each other. However, even if one considers trust to be an expectation of good will, the partners will still need to have an understanding on the terms of their cooperation. How reflexivity and tactful action might enhance trust, cooperation and mutual understanding is here investigated in depth from a personal perspective. This auto-ethnographic study draws on the personal experiences of the author, who runs a construction business. The layered text account serves as a tool to explore multiple levels of reflection. An investigation is undertaken to consider the underlying patterns of judgements of trust, as well as the shifting nature of the context. Negotiators do not possess a sufficient understanding to effectively judge when to trust a partner. However, through the application of tactful action and reflexive investigation of one's self, one's partner and the context of the situation, a better understanding and better judgements of trust can be achieved. For those seeking partnerships in construction projects, one should not underestimate the importance of critically reflecting on their own practice and their own understanding of others.