Communication and governance in the building process

Through a proposed interpretative framework the relationship between forms of transactional governance and type of information processing and communication media is analysed. Building projects are successfully completed through the development of federative mechanisms, such as cooperation, informal roles and rules, that complement and circumvent the hierarchical and formal provisions of standard contracts. At present there is a dislocation between the pattern of roles and rules advocated by standard contracts and that observed in practice. During the design and engineering process, federative mechanisms are supported by the exchange of qualitative and uncertain information through personal communication media such as group meetings and direct contacts. The focus of new information technologies should be broadened from controlling contractual compliance to facilitating communication and interaction among project participants.