The alignment of interface risks of multidisciplinary projects in the Netherlands / Raakvlakrisico’s bij nevenaanneming: Het organisatorisch en contractueel afstemmen van deelcontracten

Despite the fact that integration of supply chains within a construction project is preferred, we see that an integrated approach of various construction projects in the Netherlands is hampered due to diverse reasons. These projects are often multidisciplinary projects and are deliberately divided into multiple subprojects. Between these subprojects a phenomenon appears called interfaces. Most of the time these interfaces are inherent to characteristic risks where, up to present, a thorough academic research and a pragmatic approach to these interface risks is lacking. The reasons why projects are divided are diverse and up to present not clear. Besides that, it appears that there is a lack of an unambiguous understanding of the relation between the created interfaces due to the dividing of projects and the consequential interface risks. Therefore not all interface risks can be managed prior to the tender and contract phase. As a result it is up to the present unclear how interface risks by means of organisational and contractual measures can be best prevented in an earliest possible stage. The objective of this research is on the one hand to generate a deep and broad understanding in the relation between the causes and consequences of dividing projects. On the other hand, this research aims to develop generic solutions and measures in order to prevent interface risks between contracts in an early phase of the project. Since interface risks appear in a complex context and the aim of this research is to analyse the relation between causes and implications of interfaces, a broad and thorough case study research is an appropriate strategy to apply. The analysed case study projects are; OV-SAAL (Zuidtak), OV-Terminal Utrecht and Spoorzone Delft. Because of the multiple subprojects of these projects, the various created interfaces and the different applied contracts, the research results are extensively elaborated. The research has resulted in a list of 35 reasons why projects are divided, 10 generic causes of interface risks and 32 different identified interface risks. The reasons to divide projects that were found are of added value, as they support the decision making process during the initiation phase. Furthermore, these reasons provide insights into the consequences of dividing projects. Ranking the generic causes of interface risks provides an indication that causes should be emphasized when managing interfaces. Moreover, these generic causes are analysed in a legal context in order to provide contractual considerations when applying the UAV 2012, the UAV-gc 2005 (D&C) and the coordination agreement. The results altogether improve the understanding of the relation between the causes and consequences of interfaces. Subsequently, in order to develop generic solutions, 25 organisational, contractual and dividing measures and a comprehensive measure, the alliance-light model, were composed. When applying these measures, interface risks can be prevented in an early stage of a project. Finally, the research results are integrated into an advice model in order to make them operational for practical purposes. The academic substantiation of this research has bridged the gap between science and practice and it has set down a foundation in the context of interface management where future studies could be build upon.Design & Construction ManagementReal Estate & HousingArchitecture and The Built Environmen