The role of the client

This chapter presents a client-based critique and client perspective on procurement systems and integrated project delivery (IPD). It aims to develop the notion of IPD as a disruptive process innovation that focuses on information-based project and facility delivery. The chapter looks at procurement systems from a client perspective and tries to put IPD in context. The client can distribute the responsibility for design and construction processes according to the capability it has to deal with the building industry. Flexibility to change one’s mind is a requirement for many clients, particularly in those sectors that experience rapid changes in technology and design and property developers responding to market changes. A common strand in the systems view is the recognition of the uniqueness of projects and clients and the adoption of a contingency approach to selection of the procedures and people to mould an appropriate procurement form within the construction process.