Strengthening Collaboration is Essential for the Success of This Sector in Romania
The construction sector in Romania faces a complex predicament: on one hand, there is an urgent demand for growth, encompassing infrastructure, housing, healthcare, and education. On the other, multiple factors, including administrative hurdles, labor shortages, and a lack of cooperation between stakeholders, often hinder the timely completion of major projects.
Against this backdrop, RCBB Group, an active construction firm in both Romania and Germany, highlights a recurring issue on Romanian worksites: fragmentation, which negatively impacts productivity and leads to delays.
"One of the hidden factors contributing to delays and failures in construction is the lack of communication between partners," commented Dipl. Eng. Radu Balan, co-founder and Managing Partner of RCBB Group (left). "Collaboration rooted in trust and shared objectives is still scarce, yet Romania requires timely, high-quality, and budget-friendly projects to move forward."
A divided sector, often at odds
In numerous projects, clients, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers pursue individual interests without clearly aligning with the project's ultimate goal. This disunity creates substantial risks, including duplication, errors, increased costs, and contractual disputes.
While not unique to Romania, these issues are exacerbated here by underdeveloped organizational culture, the absence of collaboration standards, a redundant and ever-evolving legal framework, and tensions between authorities and the private sector.
The cornerstone of successful construction: teamwork
The difference between a successful and a failed construction project lies not only in budget or technology but mainly in the synergy of people and organizations. To that end, Romania primarily needs a culture of well-executed construction, established on three cornerstones:
- A common, defined end goal - every party involved must recognize and commit to the project's ultimate objective.
- Structured cooperation - collaboration transcends formal meetings and encompasses clear processes, accountability, and transparency.
- Constant and professional communication - good decisions don't materialize in isolation but through continuous, honest dialogue among stakeholders.
"In our almost seven years of experience in Germany, we've witnessed a cooperative culture not instilled by regulations but born from a mutual understanding of roles," elaborated Dipl. Eng. Codrin Botezat, co-founder and Managing Partner of RCBB Group (right). "In Romania, we have the expertise, drive, but sometimes we lack this shared culture. This must be built, step by step."
A concrete example of collaboration
On one of RCBB's recent projects in Germany, the work was completed ahead of schedule due to exemplary cooperation. A few workers spotted a discrepancy between the planning documents and the on-site reality. Instead of proceeding at the risk of an error, they immediately conveyed the issue. The site manager verified the situation, confirmed the problem, and passed the information to the client. A solution was found swiftly, with no additional financial impact.
This quick reaction and strong collaboration saved time, avoided expensive corrections, and boosted the client's trust in the team. Their success stemmed from individuals who chose not to compromise on quality. If they identified a problem, they addressed it fearlessly, knowing that a climate of trust and personal accountability fosters this behavior.
Romania's opportunity for a bespoke model
It is crucial for Romania to develop its own tailored framework suitable for local realities. This necessitates a shift in mindset: from reactive and individualistic approaches to proactive and collaborative ones.
This transformation requires commitment from all stakeholders, from the construction worker on-site to the decision-maker in public institutions. Change emerges from consistency, leadership, and mutual professional respect.
To create a modern Romania, the foundation must be strong: genuine collaboration between those who build it.
- The complexity in Romania's construction sector, marked by a lack of cooperation between clients, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, is a significant hindrance, leading to duplication, errors, increased costs, and contractual disputes.
- A strong collaboration between all parties involved in construction is essential for Romania to move forward, as it helps in achieving the ultimate project goal, enabling swift problem-solving and instilling trust among clients, resulting in successful and timely project completion.
