Course overview
Commercial Awareness: Core Principles of Construction Contracts is for people involved in project delivery who need to recognise the commercial consequences of their decisions. It explains how contract arrangements affect the work, who can commit the organisation and when an issue needs to be raised with the commercial team.
Participants consider everyday situations: starting work before the scope is clear, responding to an informal instruction, agreeing a subcontract change or failing to record a problem. The emphasis is on recognising the issue, asking the right questions and taking appropriate action.
The course provides a grounding in contracts, payment, change and risk. Participants discuss short project examples and decide what they would check, record or refer for advice. Detailed claim preparation, valuation and settlement negotiation are covered in separate courses.
What the course covers
Topics include:
Understanding the arrangement
- What work has been agreed and which documents describe it
- Common pricing and procurement arrangements
- Responsibilities under the main contract and subcontracts
- Authority to agree work, changes and commitments
Recognising commercial consequences
- How instructions and informal agreements can affect cost and time
- Recognising work outside the agreed scope
- Why records, notices and payment deadlines matter
- An introduction to New Zealand construction payment procedures
Taking action during the work
- Checking instructions before committing resources
- Recording what happened and identifying the person who needs to act
- Recognising when a problem needs commercial or legal advice
- Understanding the available routes when a disagreement cannot be resolved
For a closer look at the contractual basis, notices and evidence for a claim, see Understanding Contractual Entitlements.
Course delivery
This is a one-day public course, delivered face-to-face by Raine Selles in New Zealand.
It is an entry-level course for those developing their understanding of construction contracts and commercial management.
Dates and venues will be announced when the next course is scheduled. Contact Raine to ask about forthcoming sessions.
Who it’s for
For people making or supporting day-to-day delivery decisions who need an introduction to contracts and commercial responsibilities.
- Project managers, engineers and site supervisors
- Client-side delivery staff and consultants
- Contractor and subcontractor managers
- Early-career quantity surveyors and contract administrators
