ABSTRACT
This chapter develops the argument for the rationale for modelling of procurement in the supply chain through an analysis of selected government-sponsored investigations, policy and interventions which were aimed at sector productivity performance improvement. The textual analysis draws from a range of national documents related to project and non-project procurement from five countries to highlight content and illustrate two key themes of fragmentation versus specialization and normative management versus positive economic models. The chapter establishes the need for a positive economic procurement model for procurement in the construction supply chain through a closer examination of the text of selected government policy documents. The government policy documents are considered because governments can play a significant role in impacting the performance of an industry. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the significance of understanding the industry at the ‘supply chain level’ through procurement, which has clearly been on the agenda for many countries.
