The British construction industry is presently going through a period of rapid change. A combination of government-led reform initiatives, changes in government procurement strategies, and increasing exposure to international competition is focusing minds and shifting positions. This paper provides an analysis of the institutional aspects of these changes, identifying the root of the problems that the reforms are tackling, and indicating what the prospects of success might be. The paper starts with a historical overview of the evolution of what is here called the professional system, which has dominated the British industry for 150 years. This provides the context for the exploration of the two principal forces for change in the industry - the reform of contractual relations, especially the diffusion of partnering, and the shift of government procurement towards concession contracting in the shape of the Private Finance Initiative. In conclusion, the prospects for success are discussed, noting that the British construction industry is relatively successful in international markets, but that it shares many traditional problems of other sectors of British industry - the predominance of personal capitalism has meant a failure to develop organizational capabilities - the most notable symptom being the continuing reliance on self-organizing gangs of workers for actual production. Le secteur de la construction britannique traverse actuellement une période de mutation rapide. Des initiatives de réforme lancées par le gouvernement, une évolution de la stratégie des approvisionnements gouvernementaux et une plus grande sensibilité à la concurrence internationale occupent les esprits et font bouger les positions. La presente communication analyse les aspects institutionnels de ces changements, localise les racines des problémes auxquels s'attaquent les réformes et indique quelles sont les chances de réussite. Ce document commence par une revue historique de l'évolution de ce que l'on appelle au Royaume-Uni le ‘systeme professionnel’ qui domine l'industrie britannique depuis 150 ans. On dispose ainsi des éléments qui permettent d'explorer les deaux principaux axes du changement qui agissent dans l'industrie britannique de la construction, à savoir la réforme des relations contractuelles (notamment la diffusion du partenariat) et le passage des approvisionnements gouvernementaux à des contrats de concession sous forme d'initiatives financiè;res privées. En conclusion, l'auteur examine les chance de réussite et note que l'industrie de la construction du Royaume-Uni obtient d'assez bons résultats sur les marchés internationaux mais qu'elle partage bon nombre des problémes traditionnels d'autres secteurs industriels de ce pays. La prédominance du capitalisme personnel a empêché le développement des capacités d'organisation, le symptôme le plus remarquable étant le fait que l'on continue à s'appuyer sur des groupes auto-organises de travailleurs pour la production proprement dite.
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