IPI Partnering Toolbox

Welcome to the IPI Partnering Toolbox. This page provides tools to construction professionals who seek to adopt the best practices of construction Partnering. IPI Committees have created a Partnered Project Matrix for Vertical Construction (buildings, wastewater treatment facilities, etc.), Horizontal Construction (highways, bridges, etc.), and Aviation Construction, as well as a series of tools to help you take your Partnering program to the next level. Whether you build highways or railways, wastewater treatment facilities or airport terminals, Construction Partnering will improve communication, accountability and will help you achieve predictable project outcomes. Learn how to build a structured program and apply effective Partnering to your projects by exploring the links below.

Partnering Scalability Matrices

Sample Partnering Specifications

Vertical Partnering Spec

Horizontal Partnering Spec

Aviation Partnering Spec

Helpful Articles

The following is a collection of helpful articles which offers tips on multiple subjects, as well as tackles a handful of frequently asked questions about the Partnering process. A version of these articles, written by former IPI Executive Director Rob Reaugh, originally appeared in the "CollaborNation" newsletter series.

Choosing What Projects to Partner:

Be they small or large, projects of various complexities can benefit from Partnering. This article gives guidance into how to determine to what degree a project should be partnered by using the Partnering Potential Indicator (PPI), a tool from "Partner Your Project" by our founder Sue Dyer.

Getting Rid of Subcontractor Claims:

Subcontractor claims often boil down to the team's approach to the three issues explored in this article.

Hire a Facilitator through the Contract Change Order Process:

Hiring Facilitators through CCOs is the easiest method and allows for a lot of team flexibility. Learn more about what that entails here.

Lean, IPD, and Construction Partnering

What's the difference? We're glad you asked.

Make a Change Now:

When individuals on the team threaten the collaborative environment, there are four steps you should consider to change the situation.

Maximizing Co-location:

Co-location on Partnered Projects is often cited as one of the greatest lessons learned. This case study on the Train Depot Station construction project demonstrates three different ways that NCC Construction Sweden co-located, and which was the most effective.

Multi-Tiered Partnering:

Complex projects call for tiered Partnering, which involves three levels of workshops: Executive Level, Core Team, and Stakeholder Level..

Partnering with Third Parties:

Learn the steps to setting up a Specialty Partnering Session, and read a case study about how doing so helped resolve an issue on the I-238 Widening and Rehabilitation project (2011 Diamond Level IPI Partnered Project of the Year Award Winner).

Stakeholder Partnering:

Include your stakeholders in the Partnering process! Here's some tips to get you started, and to help with the ongoing effort.

Resources From our Online Store

We have many resources, including Partnering research and our Partnering Best Practices Guide available in our online store. For IPI members, many of these are free!

  • Sage Advice

    Best Practices and Lessons Learned straight from our Facilitator Professional Emphasis Group