Many project scopes are now executed via contracts. This allows organisations to meet their objectives by using resources outside the company boundaries, where suitable skills and knowledge often lie. Following successful pre-award and award stages, the contract must be managed well to gain the best results.
A key time in a project’s life is when contract negotiation takes place. Whether negotiating with vendors for goods and services, or perhaps negotiating with a client for a scope of work, getting it wrong at this stage can seriously affect project outcomes and value for each party. All of this involves risk, and use of tried and tested risk management methods can help us to avoid pitfalls, capitalise on opportunity and improve performance in managing the contract.
This course will give you theory, process, techniques, insights, and ideas to help you do this. In addition, we will learn how to deal with common risks and problems that arise, such as poor contractor performance, poor communication, uncontrolled change, conflict, slippage, claims and disputes. Starting with a brief recap of both risk and contracting processes, we move on to how we can combine the two, with a particular focus on the phases of contract negotiation and contract management contract post award. This will help delegates to ensure that the contract delivers the results required, that the relationship between contract parties remains good and that difficulties and adverse events can be overcome.
Delegates should emerge from the course with a high degree of knowledge and a good set of tools and practices to apply in real-life project work. The sessions are full of practical techniques and examples, with the intention of turning knowledge into practical benefit. The worked examples, case studies and exercises given are intended to help you to apply the knowledge you have gained.
Finally, the instructor will include opportunities to discuss the real-world problems and issues and questions that are affecting you in your own projects and working life, so that you can implement improvements and solutions as soon as you return to your desk. Often, helpful advice can be gained from the experience of other delegates, and the course setting provides opportunities for you to do this.
