This paper addresses the question of efficient business models in the Swedish wood-building industry, seen from the public customers’ point of view. The building industry is currently ongoing rapid development and wood is prescribed as building material in a growing number of public building projects. The industry is generally under pressure to innovate and decrease costs and the changes combined have on the one hand have created dialogs between regards how new wooden constructions on sustainable building principles can be created. From the public procurers’ point of view, crucial questions concerns what value that can be created for long term sustainable economy of the buildings and what environmental performance that can be obtained.

For assessing the perceived value of effects of three different business models a comparative case study were conducted. The cases were analysed deploying business model theory and construction management theory on perceived values. As regards the business models there was a particular focus on the degree of prefabrication, services and potential partnering options in creating offerings and undertaking production and erection of wooden bearing constructions. The cases were chosen due to that they differed with respect to the types of contracting applied, mirroring three business models and degrees of “in-house” involvement.