Featured Post

CAREERTIP : People-centric culture reduces stress and boosts productivity.

Posted by on
In a business landscape where financial success is intertwined with employee health and happiness, human sustainability has become paramount. This concept encompasses fostering an environment that enables employees to flourish both personally and professionally, without succumbing to burnout or feeling unappreciated. As leaders recognize the correlation between employee well-being and sustained business success, they face the imperative to make employee well-being a central tenet of their company strategy. Despite its significance, human sustainability often remains an elusive concept within many organizations. One primary reason for this is the perception of sustainability initiatives as long-term investments without immediate returns. Executives, pressured to prioritize short-term quarterly results, may hesitate to invest in the systems and processes that support human sustainability. 6 WAYS TO CREATE A CULTURE OF HUMAN SUSTAINABILITY  The source for this article is SUCCESS  You can
0

PROFILE : My journey through a project with complex contractual issues

Posted by on
Construction Professional Anderson Phiri reflects on a project that imparted crucial lessons in managing intricate project related contractual issues.


A building project for a new client made a significant impact in my career. As the Contractor's Representative, my responsibilities included serving as the primary liaison for contractual matters and managing project teams regarding progress, health and safety, quality, finance, and contractual compliance.

The project's challenges were compounded by my employer’s limited experience in building projects, unfamiliar quality and safety standards, and unfamiliarity with the General Conditions of Contract (JBCC). The project was also poorly tendered and priced, making it challenging to balance new client requirements, quality and safety standards, financial viability, and client satisfaction.

Constant trade-offs were necessary during project execution, influenced by the urgency of immediate situations. Delays were encountered due to internal company management culture and the project consultants' management. These delays resulted in penalties from the client, and the contractor had to decide whether to enforce contractual rights or negotiate with the consultants to avoid penalties.

The contractor chose to negotiate, which ultimately proved unsuccessful. The project highlighted the importance of having the right people in the right positions, fostering teamwork and communication, leveraging contractual rights, and understanding and mitigating internal company weaknesses.

My regrets from the project include executing top management's poor decisions and trusting the client's consultants too much. I overcame these regrets by having the right people on my side, strictly adhering to contractual requirements, and fostering strong teamwork and communication.

The project strengthened my ability to manage and handle multiple complicated and challenging dynamics simultaneously. The lessons learned have guided my approach to subsequent projects, ensuring a more successful and fulfilling experience.

Anderson Phiri holds a Higher National Diploma in Quantity Surveying and a Post Graduate Management Certificate. He has over 20 years of experience with 13 of those in Senior roles in construction companies in South Africa, Botswana, and Lesotho, working on various projects. He currently serves as the Lead Commercial/Project Manager, providing guidance on contractual matters and dispute resolution.

If you would also like to share your story send us the details here. Follow our WhatsApp channel for more hardhatSTORIES

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 21, 2024 at 12:14 PM

    This was challenging indeed. Unfortunately one will often encounter these kind of challenges in an environment where most of contractors are emerging and not well understanding the rules guiding the industry.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment