PhD Final Thesis April 2013.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

Appendices to Thesis Keith Gale 2013But beside from procurement methods I think I tend to find, I’ve just alwaysexperienced that longer term relationships are better. Yeah, I suppose theprocurement method is one of the key things that enables you have longer termrelationships. Frameworks seem to also allow you to speak to suppliers for advice –because of the relationship. There are lots of times where we’re trying to getsomeone to help us in doing something. And often you’re hindered by ‘you need touse this contract, you cannot speak to a supplier. There has to be a real relationship atleast to enable you to have that conversation. And that I suppose there’s a legalrelationship, and that relationship was put in to place which in enables a freedom totake place of give and take and discuss issues without feeling that you’ve beenchained into some legal contract.. “you cant do this, and you cant do this and you’vegot to do this and…”, rather than just a simple exchange of advice and services. Soyes, I suppose traditional contracts can be as annoying as they can be releasing. But itreally comes down to the agreement of the terms and agreements of fixed fees. Ithink its that payment.. I think the agreement conditions are what drives thatrelationship. I guess an example of that would be us working with the Architects forexample, I think the thing is that we always work traditionally under a discreetcontract. And trying to estimate our time for fee levels whereas the Architects areused to dealing with other consultants if you like on a percentage fee basis of aconstruction. With other high estimates they need to be extended because there’sbeen extra requests etc. Whereas this is an ethos of ‘you win some you lose some’but we’ll square up at the end of the financial year on set projects; then that getscontractual obligations out of the way. That’s not entering into our discussions, that’snot entering our heads to even have these conversations. We’ve agreed terms thateffect us enough to not hinder our relationships… you know, of what needs to besaid and what needs to be done so we don’t have to define every single abbreviationin terms of our design because someone is ??. And that does affect our relationship.Q13 In your view, does the use of key performance indicators help the parties gainbetter performance with projects? Why do you think this is?I think in theory yes. And I think most definitely if they are the right ones and theytarget the right areas, then yes they can work. I think if they’re in the context wherethere is delivery of contract and you give them an advantage with the competition382