Subcontractors' inter-organizational relationships as risk sources in project networks

摘要

This paper addresses risks arising from subcontractors' inter-organizational relationships for main contractor in complex and dynamic project networks. The research question of this study is: What kind of risks arise from subcontractors' inter-organizational relation-ships in project networks? The literature review addresses the research question by using the existing research on project risks, subcontractor risks and inter-organizational rela-tionships in projects. In the empirical study, employing several semi-structured inter-views in two global contractor organizations, we identify four important inter-organizational relationship categories serving as a source of risk and opportunity for the contractor. They are subcontractors' relationships with 1) another subcontractor, 2) com-petitor, 3) client and, 4) non business actor. The empirical analysis suggests that these rela-tionship risks can be classified to either operational, influencing mainly specific sales and delivery projects, or to strategic, having implications for the long-term business network and the network position of the related project network actors. We suggest that risks and opportunities related to subcontractors' relationships should be actively taken into ac-count in subcontractor management.