Project Contract Negotiation and Management

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.

Top Learning Objectives

  • How and why risk management means reduced threat and increased opportunity
  • How to identify and analyse risks particular to contract negotiation and management
  • Effective response strategies for these risks
  • Knowledge of key risk management tools and techniques
  • How human and organisational factors influence risk management
  • Methods for improving contract performance
  • How to deal with common risks including slippage, scope creep, cost growth, poor reporting and more
  • The pros, cons, and risks of the most common contract types
  • Key “soft” skills to help you solve problems and get the best out of people

Who Should Attend?

Managing a project contract is a key skill and if done well, will deliver real benefit to a business. Conversely, if done badly, it can result in financial and reputational loss, disappointment and missed opportunities. This short course will focus on the methods, skills, activities, and techniques that will guide you in achieving good outcomes from your project contracts.

Contract management is an area that often contains considerable risk, and dealing effectively with this means that we are better placed to deliver our project successfully and therefore maximise value to the organisation. This course will give you knowledge, tools and techniques for understanding, identifying and dealing with risks that occur in contract negotiation and management.

  • Contract holders
  • Contract & procurement team members
  • Project managers
  • Project team members
  • Project Management Office (PMO) Staff
  • Project controls staff

Trainer's Background

  • He has more than 30 years’ experience of managing projects in a variety of sectors, including oil and gas, IT, power delivery, water and broadcast industries
  • He is an experienced course instructor, delivering a variety of project management-related courses
  • He is a Reviewer of national project management apprenticeship scheme. He is a founding member and past chair, Association for Project Management (APM) Aberdeen
  • He is a Member Offshore Project Management Steering Group (UK North Sea). He leads on UK ECITB Project Management Mentoring Scheme. He conducts and commissions active research in the project management field

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“The trainer was very knowledgeable in the area and shared some insightful experiences. His manner of speaking was relaxed and animated enough to compensate for the wordy slides. I was engaged the whole time and learned a lot.”

– Shell Philippines Exploration B.V

 

“The trainer was able to address the questions competently and he was also able to present information that is up to date with the present industry standards and practices”

– The Philodrill Corp.

 

“Trainer’s knowledge and experience about the subject is undeniable.”

– National Grid Corporation of the Philippines