Developing a neighbourhood: Horizontal interdependencies in an innovative multi-project context

Construction projects are increasingly executed in inter-organizational multi-project contexts. Research on inter-organizational collaboration for innovation have often focused on contractual relationships, for example the vertical and adversarial relationship between client and contractor when studying project partnering, or on integrating vertical supply chain relationships between client, consultants, contractor and subcontractors. There are, however, other inter-organizational relationships to consider in construction that affect possibilities and incentives for innovation and performance. For example, in major urban development projects, as well as other mega projects, several interdependent construction projects are planned and executed in sequence and parallel in a limited geographical area. This pose challenges on inter-organizational relations and collaborations between actors in vertical supply chains, but also horizontally between clients that plan and execute their projects simultaneously and, literally, as neighbours. Here, the focus is on client collaboration for innovation. More specifically, we explore the development of horizontal inter-organizational relations and collaborations over time for innovation in major urban development projects. We do this by exploring spaces for client collaboration through theories on communities, in particular neighbourhoods and social capital. This way we include historical and informal relations which develop over time and we go beyond the traditional contractual, economical and vertical relations. Based on empirical data from a longitudinal study of an urban development project including interviews with client representatives and observations from meetings, findings indicate that previous knowledge and experience of similar projects and contexts are of major importance. Findings also indicate that client collaboration largely depends on their own initiatives over time to create spaces for collaboration.