Basic Contract Management
Contract management is a very complex puzzle in most organizations. Who is involved? What is their role? Who should conduct which activities, when and how? All these questions need to be analyzed, and the relevant strategies developed, and actions taken.
It is thus very important to create an overview of the bigger picture as well as the individual elements of the puzzle and how they interact, in order to be able to help the organization better to reach the desired goals.
At the course ‘Basic Contract Management’, you will learn how to create this overview of the contracting processes and activities as well as which individual elements your organization need to improve and master in order to best implement best practice contract lifecycle management.
First you will be introduced to the strategic, tactical, and operational levels of contract management, and to the role of leadership when implementing and maintaining CM activities. Then, we will focus on the Key performance indicators that represents “good practice contract management”, how and to whom to report the KPI´s as well as how you may develop good practice contract management in our own organization, with reference to the newest available benchmark data.
You will then learn the essential "language" and methodology of contract management, i.e., the most important terms, processes, the different phases of the contract lifecycle, and the activities that needs to be conducted in the different phases.
The you learn about the different stakeholders in contract management, and their roles and responsibilities, e.g. sales and procurement, bid- and tender management, legal, finance etc., and how to handle the collaboration and coordination between the different stakeholders and business functions. You will also learn about how strategic procurement, suppler relationship management and other relevant disciplines work in tandem with contract management, as well as how to integrate knowledge management as part of contract management.
Furthermore, you will learn about the most basic rules of contract law and risk management relevant for contract management, as well as the most important contract clauses, and how you should plan to negotiate, draft and manage them.
Finally, as part of the course, you will get access to a 100 pages chapter on contract management, a 25 pages "good practice" framework and a toolbox to be applied directly in your own practice, e.g. RASCI-models (Responsible, Accountable, Supportive, Consulted, Informed), checklists and manuals.
Participant profile
You probably work daily or at least on a regular basis with contracts and contract-related tasks, but you may have your primary role within other domains, e.g. as a procurement or bid manager, programme manager, IT-manager, coordinator, project manager, head of office, sales manager, tender manager, lawyer etc.
You need knowledge, methods and specific tools for managing and improving contracts (pre- and postaward), and a common and up-to-date language around contracts as well as communication and implementation techniques, performance management and monitoring tecniques, compliance methods and tools, claim and change management and conflict resolution methods. You are employed in a public organization or private company, and you may be in charge or part of a project to develop good practice contract management in our organization, and/or a plan to become a contract manager. You may have different educational background, e.g. within economics, procurement, technical sciences, legal, business management or self-made professional. Hence, legal education is not a pre-requisite.
The form of the course
The teaching combines theoretical introduction with practical examples, reflections and exercises, as well as dialogue and networking. The focus is on a basic understanding of contract management as a discipline and the role of the individuals participating in the processes and activities. Furthermore, the course focuses on the actions that needs to be taken.
The course is interactive, so that you will be able to reflect over your own role, and the actions needed in your own organization. As part of the course, there will be a special LinkedIn-group, to allow for reflections and follow-up among the participants on their own thoughts and actions.
Exam/certificate
The course is without exam. There will be issued a certificate for participation.
Price:
10.000 ex VAT including all materials, excluding travel expenses, hotels etc.
Teachers
René Franz Henschel
Contents
Day 1 will cover the following elements:
- Introduction to contract management. Background, purpose, terminology, and definitions
- The 10 most important causes of bad contract management – and how to improve
- Efficiency gains, Key performance indicators and benchmarks
- Central, decentralized and centre-led contract management; reporting lines
- The role of leadership, change management and interdisciplinary coordination and collaboration
- The interaction between procurement, sales, SCM, CRM, Quality management, Project management, legal and contract management
- Contract compliance and regulatory compliance
- Portfolio management and risk management
- The contract lifecycle – overview
- Resources – people, competences, software and support functions
- Roles, responsibilities etc.
- Stakeholder management and communication
- Strategic, tactical, and operational contract management
- Ending day 1
Day 2 will cover the following elements:
- The role of law and the balance between commercial management and contract management
- Contract law – basics rules and principles
- Obligations, warranties, liabilities and remedies
- Most important clauses: negotiation, drafting, management on a daily basis - do´s and don´ts
- Implementation of the contract in the organization
- Performance management and monitoring – compliance management
- Claim and change management
- Conflict management
- Exit management
- Contract close-out and lessons learned
- The way forward – good practice contract management; implementation and project management
- Ending day 2