At this time, CSR is a consultant under a contract with Salisbury University, Maryland to conduct an empirical research study and evaluation of the Maryland State Highway Administration’s partnering program.

The study is examining partnering as a conflict management “best practices” process in construction. The study consists of over 125 partnering participants at the senior management and project level. The study participants are state highway officials, engineers, and inspectors; contractor owners, project managers, and superintendents; and, a variety of other impacted stakeholders. The study will present an evaluation of partnering “best practices” from the participant’s perspective with an emphasis on process design, conflict prevention, problem solving, and relationship building.