Our focus in this study was to construct a methodology for evaluating the Australian PPP market (and by implication, the Traditional procurement route) using the most up-to-date data available in the public domain. To achieve this we set out to compare the project time and cost outcomes observed in the PPP market, with those projects delivered by governments via Traditional procurement methods. It was our aim to provide an accurate snapshot of Australia's evolving PPP market. Rather than extrapolating from, and generalising the results of a few PPP successes or failures based on a small number of case studies gathered from small populations of selected projects, our aim from the outset was to apply a rigorous methodological approach.
Originally, we had the objective of selecting matched pairs of PPP and Traditional projects. However, as the research project progressed we found that each project is a customised solution, and no two projects are exactly alike with respect to such indicators as location, size, type and value. This ruled out the matched pairs approach, as determining a 'matched pair' would have required the exercise of considerable subjective judgement, and that subjectivity would be questioned by readers.