General Contractor Business Model for Smart Cities

2A General Contractor: A Maven, A Connector

This chapter assesses the role of the general contractor in construction projects; it shows how their influence on a project’s final output is likely to vary based on contrasting intervention scenarios. This is particularly apt as general contractors are often disposed to play a series of roles in construction projects, rather than just one role¹.

For this reason, instead of dictating the role of the general contractor, we attempt to describe it exactly as it is, factually and objectively. Ceteris paribus, we demonstrate how a general contractor can make a fundamental contribution to the success of large construction projects in general and, more specifically, to smart developments.

This chapter is structured as follows. First, a description of the construction industry value chain is given, followed by a list of change agents that have enabled improved value creation in construction in recent years. A comparison between old and new construction value chains and processes is also presented. Additionally, in relation to complex construction processes (smart constructions), a concise overview of innovation in construction is provided. The role (or roles) of the general contractor is then introduced and explained. Analogies between general contractors and other construction actors are also suggested when considering the administration of smart developments. The chapter concludes by demonstrating how general contractors and music conductors ...