Sitting on all sides of the table
A Perspective
T
oward the completion of a construction contract, it is not uncommon for stakeholders to reflect on the approaches and expertise utilised at various stages of the project life cycle including project inception, procurement, formation of contract, planning requirements, design constraints/development, execution, handover, and closeout. It is at this late stage that stakeholders consider whether they may have overlooked or neglected specific aspects. In hindsight, the appropriate attention if applied earlier may have resulted in a better outcome in terms of cost, schedule, or quality. During my career, I have had the opportunity to sit across all sides of the table which has enabled me to appreciate the importance of each discipline relevant to each stage of the project life cycle, from cradle-to-grave.” My experience includes working as a quantity surveyor, engineer, consultant, contractor, and client representative. The purpose of this article is to shed light on the experiences that I have garnered during my time in these roles and to provide insight from all sides of the table.
a client. Prior to the engagement of a quantity surveyor, a client may have established a rough ballpark budget as to how much they intend to spend, therefore, this is perhaps the most critical stage for a client. In instances when a quantity surveyor prepares an estimate that is higher than a client’s budget, the project may be subject to delays while the client left to consider the following options: 1. Secure additional funds to pursue the project as initially intended. 2. Reduce the project scope and the associated cost. 3. Postpone or cancel the project.
Quantity surveyor’s perspective
Consultant’s perspective
As a quantity surveyor, the aim is to provide an estimate that is accurate, commensurate with the level of detail, classification of estimate, and relevant factors/considerations requested by
A consultant that is engaged at the early stages of a project may assist in facilitating discussions between a client and quantity surveyor to ensure no essential components are omitted for
Where a quantity surveyor assists a client in adjusting certain divisions/items of the estimate to reduce costs, care should be taken in ensuring essential components are not excluded, as doing so may result in impacts to the clients intended use, the project contingency plan, or reduce the client’s ability to cover the shortfall of costs. Where a client wishes to continue a project without compromising the scope, it is recommended that the client engages a consultant at the earliest opportunity.
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the sake of cost reductions. The cost associated with a client involving a consultant at an early stage of a project may outweigh the impacts of issues that would otherwise be realized later in the project. Also, consultants provide collaborative and interdepartmental input beyond the initial stages of a project from the feasibility stage through the evolvement of design development. In part, consultants facilitate client requests through their knowledge of the industry. For example, a consultant may suggest the involvement of engineers for design development and subject matter experts to help in formalizing contract documents. It is of the utmost importance that consultants prepare thorough and complete contract documents clearly indicating the requirements set out by the client. This includes defining which parties are obliged to do what, the timing of such obligations, and the consideration to carry out such obligations. Thereafter, the client needs to decide on whether it wishes to proceed with the project or shelve the project for future reconsideration. If the client decides to postpone the project, upon reconsideration the consultant should revaluate the relevant factors/ considerations and apply any necessary changes to the contract documents to ensure that the contract documents are current recognizing the everchanging nature of the construction industry. To return to Table of Contents CLICK HERE
