Rail Analysis India June Digital Magazine 2018 | Page 70
72 | Article
Article | 71
Why do we need to collaborate?
Partnership ( example Client - supplier
A few of the reasons why high levels of collaboration are
required in complex or large infrastructure projects are as
follows: Alliance or better ) transactional relationship.
• Select supplier on culture •
Sign the contract
and technical fit not cost •
Leave the contractor to
• • Develop charter • Aligned objectives and •
Monitor milestones
goals •
Make payments
•
Mr. Clement Kwegyir
•
Afful BSc MSc MAPM CEng FICE
Greater flexibility to accommodate changes in the project
Greater energy to seek out threats and address them
Greater energy to identify opportunities for the project
• Colocation of team
• Team approach to risk
do their work
management
•
Why is collaboration difficult?
team
•
Two of the things, with one influencing the other, which makes
collaboration difficult are:
Collaboration- Overused or underused on large
infrastructure projects
Image Credits: KAPM
Introduction
Collaboration is a hot topic on every project these days.
We were once asked by a supplier during the tender phase
whether we wanted to enter into a ‘collaborative relationship’
or a ‘truly collaborative relationship’. The ‘truly collaborative
relationship’ when we enquired was a higher price!
Misconceptions about collaboration
Article Source : KAPM
not tackling underperformance nor being aggressive by both
parties.
Saying yes to everything, putting the contract documents in the
drawer, being aggressive and not tackling underperformance
is a recipe for a project going into crisis.
What is Collaboration?
I have held workshops for project teams where I have
mentioned that we need to increase the levels of collaboration
in our relationship to be high-performing. I normally will hear a
few statements which raise alarm bells. Business dictionary define ‘collaboration’ as ‘a cooperative
arrangement in which two or more parties (which may or may
not have any previous relationship) work jointly towards a
common goal’.
Some will say, ‘We need to work in a way that the contract is
put in the drawer and never looked at’. I, for one, don’t believe
a project manager should run a project without understanding
what is in the contract. If one takes into consideration this definition, then all
infrastructure construction clients are in some form of a
collaborative relationship with their suppliers. So probably
what we should be discussing is the level of collaboration
in the client-supplier relationship not whether you need to
collaborate or not.
Halfway through the workshop, the contractor may say, ‘If I
put my contract hat on’. Yes — we never asked you to take it
off. That would be unfair because we want you to deliver the
scope.
What collaboration is not!
Collaboration is not saying ‘yes’ to everything asked for by
either the client or the supplier. Collaboration is also neither
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Effective collaboration
Collaboration is about choosing a partner whose culture,
processes, procedures and strengths complements yours so
that together you become high-performing. You don’t want to
choose a clone of yourself which is what you are naturally
inclined to do. We are all comfortable with people just like us.
• Large sums of money which influences behaviour
• Dealing with humans is ‘difficult’
Challenges posed by a collaborative relationship
High levels of collaboration apart from it being difficult also
brings its own challenges. Some of these are:
Joint Project Leadership
Drive towards one team
mentality
•
Consider adoption of lean
Construction
Further Information
An excerpt of ‘Delivering Successful Megaprojects –key
factors and toolkit for the project manager’
A few of the tools discussed in the book include the following:
• Trying to overcome the different organisational cultures. • How to choose the right partner/supplier
• Loss of clarity on roles and responsibilities. • The pillars for a successful client- supplier relationship
• The factors to consider in choosing the right levels of
collaboration for your project
This brings me back to my title. Is collaboration overused or
underused? Yes and No! The collaboration levels required for
a project, just like every other project management principle,
should be tailored for the project. • How to develop a robust but flexible contract for effective
client-supplier relationship
• The dos and don’ts for a successful collaboration
True collaboration as our supplier indicated can be expensive.
High levels of collaboration brings its own challenges and
therefore the benefits should outweigh the disbenefits. • How to make your collaboration successful
• The qualities you need as a project leader on a project
requiring high levels of collaboration
Is it a one size fits all?
There are several factors that you need to consider before
deciding on the level of collaboration to use for the project.
However, the more complex a project is, the higher the levels
of collaboration required to ensure its success.
Increasing level of Complexity
Highly complex project
Non - Complex projects
Increasing levels of collaboration
(note that this is different from the skills required to lead your
own organisation)
And many more!
Knowing the theory is good, however theory applied and
knowing how to navigate around the issues they bring
isGREAT! The book is about the practicality of applying all
those project management, motivational and leadership
theories to ensure that your complex or large infrastructure
project is a success.
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