Abstract :
In common with other UK industries, important cultural changes have been taking place in civil engineering in an effort to improve performance and reduce costs. Much effort is being directed at moving away from the problems associated with traditional ways of working to more cooperative methods. As a best practice client, The Scottish Office is committed to bringing about improvements in trunk road projects through its Alternative Tendering Initiative (ATI), which is addressing a range of issues including procurement processes, forms of contract, cooperative methods of working and quality. This paper describes how important aspects of this approach are greater coordination between design and construction and the emphasis on teamworking through partnering practices such as project charters, workshops and integrated site offices
