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Alliancing is a project-execution approach, aimed at creating mutually beneficial relationships between all involved parties, to produce exceptional results. Typically, the relationship between the client and the other alliance members involves a risk/reward arrangement through which all parties benefit in achieving exceptional performance. Adopting a best-for-project approach, the alliance relationship focuses all parties on achieving common project objectives so as to attain a win-win result for all stakeholders.
Project alliancing has evolved from partnering, and is sometimes called strategic partnering. The main difference between alliancing and partnering is the introduction of risk and reward, based on the performance of the alliance team, usually comprising the major consultants, contractors and owner.
Project alliancing has been used for major infrastructure and mining projects, but is relatively untried in the Australian building industry, although it has been used for the National Museum of Australia in Canberra and the Hamer Hall redevelopment in Melbourne (see Further resources).