Integrated project teams in early design stages – Key variables influencing cost effectiveness in bridge building

The construction industry is usually regarded as a complex, multidisciplinary and project focused environment. It is also regularly identified as a one-of-a-kind nature, hence focus is on the uniqueness of projects rather than in similarities. The results presented in this article are based on questionnaire addressed to clients, contractors, and designers, mainly active within the Swedish infrastructure sector. The purpose is to highlight key-variables influencing cost effectiveness for the organization of integrated project teams, designing of projects, and construction at site. The results indicate that more attention needs to be paid to the actual project setting if to fully gain the benefits from integrated project teams. Further, the results indicates that it is mainly project culture; collaboration and social relationships, and project competence, the ability to solve mutual issues, that needs to be developed.