Optimising social procurement policy outcomes through cross-sector collaboration in the Australian construction industry

Loosemore, M; Denny-Smith, G; Barraket, J; Keast, R; Chamberlain, D; Muir, K; Powell, A; Higgon, D; Osborne, J

Optimising social procurement policy outcomes through cross-sector collaboration in the Australian construction industry

Loosemore, M

Denny-Smith, G

Barraket, J Keast, R Chamberlain, D Muir, K Powell, A Higgon, D Osborne, J

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Publisher:: EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 2020, ahead-of-print, (ahead-of-print)
Issue Date:: 2020-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Loosemore, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3189-4655
dc.contributor.author	Denny-Smith, G https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9079-653X
dc.contributor.author	Barraket, J
dc.contributor.author	Keast, R
dc.contributor.author	Chamberlain, D
dc.contributor.author	Muir, K
dc.contributor.author	Powell, A
dc.contributor.author	Higgon, D
dc.contributor.author	Osborne, J
dc.date.accessioned	2021-03-14T21:55:58Z
dc.date.available	2021-03-14T21:55:58Z
dc.date.issued	2020-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 2020, ahead-of-print, (ahead-of-print)
dc.identifier.issn	0969-9988
dc.identifier.issn	1365-232X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/147113
dc.description.abstract	© 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: Social procurement policies are an emerging policy instrument being used by governments around the world to leverage infrastructure and construction spending to address intractable social problems in the communities they represent. The relational nature of social procurement policies requires construction firms to develop new collaborative partnerships with organisations from the government, not-for-profit and community sectors. The aim of this paper is to address the paucity of research into the risks and opportunities of entering into these new cross-sector partnerships from the perspectives of the stakeholders involved and how this affects collaborative potential and social value outcomes for intended beneficiaries. Design/methodology/approach: This case study research is based on a unique collaborative intermediary called Connectivity Centre created by an international contractor to coordinate its social procurement strategies. The findings draw on a thematic analysis of qualitative data from focus groups with 35 stakeholders from the construction, government, not-for-profit, social enterprise, education and employment sectors. Findings: Findings indicate that potentially enormous opportunities which social procurement offers are being undermined by stakeholder nervousness about policy design, stability and implementation, poor risk management, information asymmetries, perverse incentives, candidate supply constraints, scepticism, traditional recruitment practices and industry capacity constraints. While these risks can be mitigated through collaborative initiatives like Connectivity Centres, this depends on new “relational” skills, knowledge and competencies which do not currently exist in construction. In conclusion, when social procurement policy requirements are excessive and imposed top-down, with little understanding of the construction industry's compliance capacity, intended social outcomes of these policies are unlikely to be achieved. Originality/value: This research draws on theories of cross-sector collaboration developed in the realm of public sector management to address the lack of research into how the new cross-sector partnerships encouraged by emerging social procurement policies work in the construction industry. Contributing to the emerging literature on cross-sector collaboration, the findings expose the many challenges of working in cross-sector partnerships in highly transitionary project-based environments like construction.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LTD
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP170100670
dc.relation.ispartof	Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1108/ECAM-04-2020-0221
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0905 Civil Engineering, 1202 Building, 1503 Business and Management
dc.subject.classification	Building & Construction
dc.title	Optimising social procurement policy outcomes through cross-sector collaboration in the Australian construction industry
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	ahead-of-print
utslib.for	0905 Civil Engineering
utslib.for	1202 Building
utslib.for	1503 Business and Management
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building/School of Built Environment
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2021-03-14T21:55:56Z
pubs.issue	ahead-of-print
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	ahead-of-print
utslib.citation.issue	ahead-of-print

Abstract:

© 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: Social procurement policies are an emerging policy instrument being used by governments around the world to leverage infrastructure and construction spending to address intractable social problems in the communities they represent. The relational nature of social procurement policies requires construction firms to develop new collaborative partnerships with organisations from the government, not-for-profit and community sectors. The aim of this paper is to address the paucity of research into the risks and opportunities of entering into these new cross-sector partnerships from the perspectives of the stakeholders involved and how this affects collaborative potential and social value outcomes for intended beneficiaries. Design/methodology/approach: This case study research is based on a unique collaborative intermediary called Connectivity Centre created by an international contractor to coordinate its social procurement strategies. The findings draw on a thematic analysis of qualitative data from focus groups with 35 stakeholders from the construction, government, not-for-profit, social enterprise, education and employment sectors. Findings: Findings indicate that potentially enormous opportunities which social procurement offers are being undermined by stakeholder nervousness about policy design, stability and implementation, poor risk management, information asymmetries, perverse incentives, candidate supply constraints, scepticism, traditional recruitment practices and industry capacity constraints. While these risks can be mitigated through collaborative initiatives like Connectivity Centres, this depends on new “relational” skills, knowledge and competencies which do not currently exist in construction. In conclusion, when social procurement policy requirements are excessive and imposed top-down, with little understanding of the construction industry's compliance capacity, intended social outcomes of these policies are unlikely to be achieved. Originality/value: This research draws on theories of cross-sector collaboration developed in the realm of public sector management to address the lack of research into how the new cross-sector partnerships encouraged by emerging social procurement policies work in the construction industry. Contributing to the emerging literature on cross-sector collaboration, the findings expose the many challenges of working in cross-sector partnerships in highly transitionary project-based environments like construction.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/147113