Title: Modelling of trust and working relationship in construction project management: a case study of Vietnam

Authors: Nguyen Thanh Tam; Bonaventura H.W. Hadikusumo

Addresses: Department of Engineering and Technology, Tra Vinh University, No. 126, National Way 53, Ward 5, Tra Vinh City, Tra Vinh Province, Vietnam ' School of Engineering and Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani, 12120, Thailand

Abstract: Trust is regarded an essential lubricant to complete the construction project smoothly. However, few attempts to study how trust helps to improve working relationship in construction projects. The objective of this study is to explore the inter-correlations between antecedences and consequences of trust in project management. Quantitative study was conducted to test the hypotheses. The result of analysis revealed that Relational trust arisen by continual interactions between individuals and Calculus-based trust regarding to beneficial issues based on economic exchange were found to have most contribution to generating a harmony working environment in construction projects through facilitating communication, cooperation, negotiation-problem solving, and relationship satisfaction. However, institution-based trust, which is built up on legal system and professional practice, has least impact on improving working relationship. The research findings are expected to be useful for local construction parties and others that wish to engage in construction market in Vietnam.

Keywords: construction projects; contractor-owner relationships; project life; Vietnam; modelling; working relationships; construction industry; project management; case study; relational trust; calculus-based trust; institution-based trust.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2016.081676

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2016 Vol.8 No.4, pp.366 - 395

Received: 16 Aug 2014
Accepted: 23 Mar 2015

Published online: 20 Jan 2017 *

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