Conflict Avoidance

The key issues in conflict avoidance are:

• Clear identification and allocation  of obligations,liabiliites and risk
• Proper management of obligations and making project staff aware of the contract procedures and obligations
• Effective monitoring and recording of the construction process
• Early and accurate assessment of exposure to risk
• Identifying the options available and the affects of those options
• Calculated decision making
• Implementation of cost effective solutions

We are often first involved with a project after a conflict has already occurred. Our experience from nvestigating and analysing these conflicts generally shows that the cause often occurs in the early stages of a project either in allocation of risk, problems in design and ensuing late assessment of variations, loss of control of programme or the failure of one or both of the parties to adhere to the contract procedures.

Issues of conflict tend to occupy extensive management time, disrupt the construction process and cash flow and may lead to the damaging of business relationships.

Conflict avoidance should be a priority issue for all contractors from the very outset of a project and we are able to offer advice and assist in decision making to effective avoidance of conflicts.