Although all respondents were united in the need to take a long term
perspective, the length of the so called common future varied between the respondents
with some arguing for two-year agreements while others argued that agreements
should last for at least five years. As the fourth criteria the respondents pointed to the
need for the contractor to guarantee volumes to its suppliers. In order for the supplier
and contractor to evaluate possible effects of development work, there needs to be a
guarantee that the contractor will use the supplier. Hence, not only a framework
agreement is needed but also a guarantee that the agreement will be used. Lastly, total
cost focus was discussed. This was preferred to the more traditional price focus and it
was pointed out that the contractor should not use its relative power to decrease the
margins for the supplier to zero. As one respondent put it: “we (the contractor) shall not
kill the suppliers”, emphasizing the need for mutuality in the relationship, and
continued: “we do not have any use for the suppliers if they go bankrupt”.