SUBCONTRACTOR PERSPECTIVES: FACTORS THAT MOST AFFECT THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH GENERAL CONTRACTORS - A PACIFIC NORTHWEST STUDY

Abstract

This Pacific Northwest study was conducted to determine the most important factors in general contractor subcontractor relationships. Interviews were conducted with twenty four subcontractors from eight disciplines to evaluate their opinions about the general contractor’s personnel, procedures and practices that improve or damage their relationships. The study reveals the top three relationship factors to be bid shopping, project manager relationship and superintendent capability, respectively. A mixed method research design was utilized where subcontractors were asked to rank their top three relationship factors and determine which factors are important enough to end their relationships with general contractors. Subcontractors stated that bid shopping is a serious betrayal of trust with 75% of respondents indicating that they have ended a relationship after being bid shopped. The project manager and superintendent have key roles in maintaining the subcontractor relationship; honesty, fairness and capability were determined to be their most important traits.