Let's say it's 1300 in France and you want to build a cathedral. Who can build it?? The Guilds. They are the only ones who have the knowledge and skills as they teach and train only entered apprentices under pain of death by solemn vows for revealing any Guild knowledge of procedures to those not qualified. So there is no second party to do the work to send out for bids. There is only negotiating with a hard monopoly. How hard??
The terms of the Guilds are thus: The price is 50 tons gold coin or bullion to be paid in full prior to scheduling the project for commencement in 20 years and completion in 50 years. Take it or leave it. Right in the Kings face who wants the Pope to like him. Hoffa in his dreams never had such a lock on construction labor much less any control at all over the design professions.
One benefit lost when the Guilds were eventually broken was, in those times, it was not possible to hire any but the most competent. No one outside the Guild could design and build anything bigger than a village hut. If it were otherwise no civilization could have been established with civil works of the highest skills to last centuries and millennia.
One thing the same then and now, the first to visit the site were surveyors. Without that you can't design anything. And they would be at the site throughout layout and building to verify positions to fine tolerance with tools and knowledge so simple, yet held secret, as to stun the imagination. Surveyors are the 2nd oldest profession because civilization could not have commenced without them. In Egypt they were called Masters of the Works, holders of the highest secrets of mankind.
Here is an interesting modern project using old methods and tools.
http://www.guedelon.fr/en/the-guedelon-adventure_01.html
