Content area
Full text
Introduction
Although a construction logistics solution is necessary for dealing with the demands in many large urban development projects, such as limited space, reduction of environmental impact, improved accessibility and noise restrictions (Dablanc, 2007), the phenomenon of logistics solutions is relatively new in the construction industry (Langley, 2016). One type of logistics solution is a construction logistics centre (CLC), which is often run by a third-party logistics (TPL) provider (Lindén and Josephson, 2013; Ekeskär and Rudberg, 2016). One benefit of this is that the CLC and TPL provider can act as systems integrators, coordinating materials and resource deliveries to sites within the development area, thereby allowing for less transport and improved efficiency (Ekeskär and Rudberg, 2016). However, because TPL providers traditionally have not been active in the construction industry and logistics solutions are still a novelty, the introduction of CLCs in the construction supply chain will impose new demands regarding governance.
Governance mechanisms are for dealing with how social and economic coordination should take place within a specific area (Williamson, 1999). Yet, due to the paucity of studies on CLCs, there is limited information on how they can be initiated and organised. The few existing studies are all descriptive in nature and from one or two stakeholder perspectives, and lack suggestions on organising construction logistics in urban development projects – namely, developing governance mechanisms guidelines considering different stakeholder perspectives. Ekeskär and Rudberg (2016) and Sundquist, et al. (2017) both studied CLCs and their governance impact in specific projects. Some reports and theses have also investigated the use of CLCs in, for example, London and Stockholm (Lundesjo, 2010, 2011; Brunge, 2013). What these studies reveal is that the initiation of CLCs has not been without resistance from stakeholders in the construction supply chain. Therefore, the present study’s purpose was to analyse the initiation and utilisation of a CLC from different stakeholders’ perspectives and to suggest governance mechanisms for strategic, tactical, and operational levels and to develop guidelines for implementing these governance mechanisms. The research was based on a single-case study of a CLC in a major urban development project in Sweden. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the TPL provider, the municipality, three different main contractors and two developers and through project documentation....