Developing Subcontractor–General Contractor Relationships in the Construction Industry: Constructs and Scales for Analytical Decision Making

Abstract

Prescriptive approaches currently dominate decision-making in the case of general contractor–subcontractor contractual relationships. This leads to a general contractor–centric contractual practices and demonstrates a lack of exploration from the subcontractor’s perspective. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a reliable and validated scale for analyzing the subcontractor–general contractor relationship in the construction industry. Through a review of literature and the application of quantitative methods such as reliability testing and confirmatory factor analysis, the study develops key concepts and measurement scales that allow for an analytical decision-making framework from the subcontractor’s perspective. The resulting scale can help practitioners make informed, analytical decisions in building relationships between subcontractors and general contractors, leading to a more holistic approach. This study is unique in its focus on developing a scale specifically for analyzing the subcontractor–general contractor relationship in the construction industry.