The research is a first exploration of the influence of procurement on team performance taking a
socio-constructivist perspective. Because of the fragmented and temporary nature of project
coalitions in construction, contracts have played a role of stabilizer, formalizing the patterns of
relationships between the client and the supply chain. Moving from fragmented to integrated
design requires changes to these patterns of relationships. As demonstrated in the case studies,
the nature of the contractual arrangements can create an adversarial context to collaboration that
may hinder team performance, or can help create a new context that will facilitate the transition
to collaborative work.