IPD / IPA
Building project alliances –
MontaConnect supports not only individual projects but also fosters the development of regional networks and alliances in construction. The vision: a building culture where all participants learn from mistakes together, share risks, and collaborate more efficiently through standardized processes.
Why Alliances?
Because traditional contract models often lead to conflicting interests, while alliances put 'Best for Project' first. Studies and practical examples show that IPD projects run more reliably on time and budget because all key players are involved from the start and pull in the same direction.
New Culture
Instead of confrontation when problems arise, the best solution is sought together. Team charters, facilitation, and dialogue processes ensure the cultural shift.
Lean Methodology
Daily coordination rounds and continuous improvement processes increase productivity and reduce waste. Fewer change orders and shorter construction times.
Governance in the Swiss Context
MontaConnect's alliance playbook is based on proven structures, adapted to local conventions (SIA standards etc.). Responsibilities are fairly distributed and organized in a clear escalation logic.
Clear Decision Paths
Project Team
Operational decisions in daily business – consensus in the alliance team
Examples: Material selection, workflows, minor changes
Management Team
Strategic decisions and escalation when consensus fails
Examples: Target cost overruns, technical solutions, schedule risks
Leadership Team
Fundamental directional decisions – final escalation level
Examples: Project termination, contract changes, Best-for-Project failure
The Three Pillars of Governance
Legal clarity, organizational structure, and lived transparency form the foundation. They build trust and enable fast, consensual decisions.
Target Costs & Risk Allocation
Savings
All partners benefit proportionally – incentive for efficiency and innovation
Monitoring
Target costs monitored in real-time – early warning of risks
Cost Overruns
Proportional shared responsibility – transparency instead of blame
Selection, Procurement, Assessment
The platform can also help form the alliance. Instead of awarding solely on price, MontaConnect focuses on qualification and cultural fit of partners.
Prequalification
Qualitative criteria instead of price dominance
Dialogue Phases
Open exchange and understanding
Group Assessment
Test tasks for genuine cultural fit
Through prequalifications, dialogue phases, and even group assessments (where all key participants work through test tasks together), teams emerge that truly fit together. Decisions about partners are recorded using clear criteria in the system – this gives courage to decide because the foundations are traceable.
Cultural Work & Team Rituals
An alliance stands or falls with team culture. MontaConnect promotes this through tools like team canvas and digital charters, where shared values and rules are defined.
Integrated Lean Tools:
- •Team Canvas & Digital Charter
- •Big Room Meetings (virtually supported)
- •Weekly Lessons Learned
- •Daily Stand-ups
Continuous Improvement:
- •Regular, lean workshops
- •Transparent conflict resolution
- •Central knowledge base
- •Exclusion when 'Best for Project' is jeopardized
Knowledge & Critical Path
Shared decision and insights database, clear path for PoNR-relevant work, transparent schedule and dependency communication between trades.
Alliance Workspace
Digital memos, decision paths, role boards, and KPI dashboards come together in one workspace. Here we consolidate target costs, risk logic, and learning rituals – including export of the project dossier for all partners. Risks, buffers, and PoNR-relevant tasks are visible live for every trade.
Advisory & Setup
with Phil
Sparring, contract and compensation logic, team canvas, charter, and facilitated big room sessions – including tooling for documentation. On request, we provide dialogue questions and sample charters.
Strategic Advisory:
- ✓Kick-off & target vision definition
- ✓Contract & compensation logic
- ✓Target costs, bonus/malus, risk allocation
Practical Implementation:
- ✓Team & Culture: Charter, values, roles
- ✓Assessment & Selection: Criteria, dialogue questions
- ✓Tooling & Dossier: Decision log, learning rituals
Interested? Take a look at our alliance playbook or book a non-binding alliance sparring session with our founder to learn how you can set up a successful project alliance in your environment.