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

Appendices to Thesis Keith Gale 2013Well again I think the KPI have influenced it quite a lot. You know, the contractorsseem to have one eye on those all the time now and they have influenced it a lot.Perhaps they prefer it rather than applying hard sanctions like liquidated damageswhich is obviously a financial one. I also think then, certainly within frameworks,with the kudos and continuing working relationship with Hampshire County Councilthey realise that we are a pay master if you like and they like to keep on our side.Q8 In your view, what can be done to encourage suppliers to start and finish ontime?I think at Hampshire County Council they have got to have realistic lead in andcontract periods. Umm again, one that we’d all like is minimal changes in thecontract (that’s always good) but the other one is continual communication betweenall the parties. I mean, that’s essential. And that’s essential through all of it reallyQ9 In your opinion, do you think that frameworks encourage accurate start andfinish dates more than traditional procurement method? Why do you think that is?Umm, I do. I think that fact that the KPI system is inherent within the frameworks(whereas they’re not in our stand alone contracts), means that the contractors arealways looking to improve their delivery. You know, if he knows he is going to bemarked down, he’s always happy to make that extra effort. And that err will effecthis attitude towards starting, finishing, and you know, sort of lots of things inbetween. You don’t necessarily get that on stand alone contracts err because, youknow, there’s no real reason. I know you’ve got the threat a bit about your damages,but there’s no real reason for a stand alone contract (or one contract only) to makeany kind of special effort. Within the framework, and within the framework forcontractors, they learn that way of thinking. You know, they’re trying to buildrelationships, they’re trying to secure future work and I think its all down to theKPI’s really. I mean, there is the other side of the coin I suppose in the fact that whenhe’s in the framework he knows that whatever happens he’s in the hat for the nextscheme anyway. And there isn’t any, there’s no sort of… with the exception ofmarking them down on the KPI (which you can do) there’s no sort of kicking them404