Trust and engineer selection in the oil and gas industry

Trust that exists and develops between contracting parties in the initial contracting stages, more specifically in the Engineer selection process, is more critical to project success than the contract itself, and the financial issues involved in the project. Understanding the behaviour and role of trust in the Engineer selection process could significantly enhance the value and efficacy of trust in contracting and project successes as a whole.; In this research, a two-phased exploratory study was conducted using triangulated qualitative and quantitative methods. They are: (1) the pilot phase in the form of modified Delphi method; and (2) the main phase using in-depth interviews. The research studied how the three dimensions of trust in the “Trust Colour Model” influenced decision-making throughout the Engineer selection process.; Through the pilot phase, the research identified that trust was one of the critical factors to be considered in contract strategy design, and there was a significant connection between trust and the effective implementation of the Engineer selection method. In the main phase, more specific empirical information was obtained: (1) the performance of the “Trust Colour Model” throughout the Engineer selection process in general; (2) the extended understanding of the “Trust Colour Model” at both the interpersonal and interorganizational levels; (3) the presence and influence of three dimensions of trust proposed in the “Trust Colour Model” in each of the Engineer selection sub-phases; and (4) the dynamic cycle of the three ‘trust colours’ which influencing the decision making differently between the Owner and Engineer in the selection process. In summary, the importance and influence of actively applying trust at the outset of the project contracting process were clearly agreed on and appreciated by the industry experts who participated in this research.